In the American League West, the cream appears to be rising to the top as we enter the second half of 2011. <\/p>\n
MLB Gambling<\/a> Online \u2013 Texas Rangers vs. Seattle Mariners<\/strong> Texas Rangers (52-41 through July 14)<\/strong> Oakland and Seattle fought valiantly but are finally fading, leaving the Rangers and Angels to battle it out for the division crown yet again.<\/p>\n All-Star C.J. Wilson gets the ball for the Rangers Saturday night in Seattle. He\u2019s been a real workhorse this season while also raising his strikeout rate and curbing his walk rate. Reportedly, Cliff Lee\u2019s brief stay in Texas last season really rubbed off on Wilson.<\/p>\n Though Wilson has a mediocre 4.48 ERA against the Mariners for his career, some of those innings came as a reliever. He dominated them his last time out, pitching a complete game with 12 strikeouts.<\/p>\n Texas beat the M’s 4-0 on Friday night.<\/p>\n Seattle Mariners (43-49 through July 14)<\/strong> The Seattle Mariners are in a freefall, having lost six straight games \u2013 all to division rivals. That\u2019ll put you out of contention in a hurry, won\u2019t it?<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to see why Seattle has tanked. The Mariners are dead last in baseball in runs per game, batting average (a pitiful .223 as a team) and OPS. They\u2019ve relied too much on youngsters like Justin Smoak, who have hit their inevitable slumps. Even Ichiro is batting .267, for cryin\u2019 out loud!<\/p>\n The Mariners\u2019 pitching has been just fine. Hard to believe reigning AL Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez hasn\u2019t even been the best pitcher on his own team. His ERA has risen by almost a run but, oddly, his walk rate, homer rate and opposing batting average haven\u2019t changed much at all from last season. Teams are just finding ways to score on him more. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n TEX are 8-0 in their last 8 overall. The Seattle bats can\u2019t hit the broad side of a barn right now and Wilson should be brimming with confidence after obliterating them his last time out. He won\u2019t need much run support. Felix Hernandez is a ho-hum 10-13 with a 3.84 ERA against Texas in his career. <\/p>\n He has a devil of a time keeping the ball in the park against them. <\/p>\n He\u2019ll have to be especially careful against Nelson Cruz, who has three long balls and slugs .538 off him in his career.<\/p>\n The problem is that King Felix can\u2019t afford even the slightest mistake. <\/p>\n If he allows more than, say, three runs, he\u2019s toast, as the offense behind him isn\u2019t doing a thing.<\/p>\n
\nDate: <\/strong>Saturday, July 16, 2011
\nVenue: <\/strong>Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>FSH, ROOT
\nTexas Rangers at Seattle Mariners Betting Lines from BetOnline.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Seattle -105<\/strong>
\nOver\/Under: 6<\/strong>
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\nC.J. Wilson (9-3, 3.20)<\/p>\n
\nFelix Hernandez (8-7, 3.19)<\/p>\nMLB Trends<\/h3>\n
\nTEX are 8-0 in their last 8 games on grass.
\nTEX are 36-16 in Wilsons last 52 starts on grass.
\nUnder is 20-8-3 in SEA last 31 home games.
\nSEA are 15-36 in their last 51 Sat. games.
\nUnder is 33-14-5 in SEA last 52 overall.
\nTEX are 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
\nTEX are 6-2 in Wilsons last 8 starts vs. SEA.<\/p>\nMLB Free pick: <\/h3>\n