Rays vs Rangers MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
While the Rangers are coming off a loss they are still 7-3 in their last 10 games and have the biggest AL division lead, as they are 5.5 games up on the Oakland A’s in the AL West. The Rays are also 7-2 in their last games, but they have lost 2 straight.
Venue/ Stadium: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Time/Date: 8 PM EST Monday, August 27, 2012
MLB Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: Rays -130 / Rangers +110
Over/Under: 8.5 runs
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers Preview
Still, they are only 4 games back of the Yankees in the AL East and are tied with 2 other teams for the Wild Card lead. MLB odds have the Rays as slight away favorites with a total of 8.5 runs.
In their last games the Rangers lost to the Minnesota Twins 6-5 and the Rays lost to the Oakland A’s 4-2.
This season the Rays have an O/U record of 49-73 with a run-line W/L record of 60-67 and the Rangers have an O/U record of 56-68 with a run-line W/L record of 62-65.
On the season the Rangers are an AL best 41-24 at home and the Rays are 35-30 on the road.
David Price (16-4, 2.28 ERA) goes for the Rays tonight and he was stellar in his last outing not giving up any earned runs in 8 innings, but got no run support in a no decision against he Royals. Derek Holland (8-6, 4.92 ERA) is on the hill for the Rangers and he got a win over the Orioles in his last start giving up 3 earned runs in 7 innings.
The main reason the Rays are the favorite is that Price is on the mound and he has not lost in his last 8 starts. He is 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA in his last 4 starts and while he won the last time he faced the Rangers he was 0-6 with a 5.30 ERA in his previous 9 starts facing them. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Holland has been a little shaky lately, as he did win his last start, but in his previous 4 outings was 0-1 with an ERA of 5.88.
Price has a tall task in this game facing a Rangers’ offense that ranks #1 in the Majors in runs scored, team batting average, and on base percentage.
Texas slugger Josh Hamilton went deep in yesterday’s game and he ranks 1st in the AL in RBI and 2nd in HR.
In some betting trends for this AL match up the Rays are 4-0 in their last 4 road games, 6-1 in Price’s last 7 road starts, and they have an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 games as a favorite.
The Rangers are 4-1 in their last 5 games, 4-1 in Holland’s last 5 home starts, and they have an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.
Jason’s Pick: Price is on fire, but I think his luck will end tonight facing a great Texas offense and the Rangers will win Game 1 of this series.
