The Texas Rangers have won the battle for the American League West. With a playoff berth locked up, the next step is edging Detroit out for home field in the American League Division Series (they can\u2019t catch the Yankees). <\/p>\n
Date: <\/strong>September 27, 2011 Texas Rangers (94-66 through September 26)<\/strong> Through Monday night, the Rangers were a game back of Detroit.<\/p>\n Matt Harrison will start Wednesday night in California. He\u2019s finally having the season Texas always thought he could have. Ultimately, he\u2019s an innings eater, but Harrison has thrown a decent amount of strikes and upped his strikeout rate. He also hasn\u2019t tired. Harrison has won four straight starts and has lost once in a nine-start stretch dating back to August 8.<\/p>\n Oddly, Harrison has faced his division rival Angels just once this season, losing after allowing three runs in 6.2 innings on April 20.<\/p>\n Los Angeles Angels (86-74 through September 26)<\/strong> The Angels are packing it in for 2011 after a valiant effort. They had great top-end talent in their starting rotation with Jered Weaver and Dan Haren; they had a breakout season from rookie power hitter Mark Trumbo (who has been shut down with a foot injury); but they didn\u2019t have the horses to catch Texas. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n Weaver will try to end his already-outstanding season on a high note Wednesday. He\u2019s been a beast at home this season, going 8-2 with a\u00a0 1.84 ERA over 15 starts. He\u2019s allowed two earned runs or fewer in four straight outings.<\/p>\n The pick:<\/strong><\/p>\n I wonder if Weaver will \u201chave it\u201d on Wednesday now that his team\u2019s out of the race and now that it doesn\u2019t look like he can catch Justin Verlander in the AL Cy Young race. The Rangers hammered him for seven runs and two homers over six innings the last time he faced them. Other than Elvis Andrus (.413), no Ranger hitter has hit for average against Weaver, but Andrus, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz and the can all have a history of taking Weaver deep.<\/p>\n A few long balls may be all Texas needs on Wednesday. With no Trumbo, the Angels\u2019 weak offense may not inflict much damage. Go with the road team \u2013 and you should get upset value at your book since you\u2019ll be betting against Weaver at home.<\/p>\n
\nVenue: <\/strong>Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>FSH, FSW
\nTexas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: <\/strong>OFF
\nOver\/\/Under: <\/strong>OFF<\/p>\n
\nMatt Harrison (14-9, 3.46)<\/p>\n
\nJered Weaver (18-8, 2.41)<\/p>\n