MLB Odds: Rangers and Rays Battle in Tampa
The Rangers will likely miss Nelson Cruz from their lineup the next few days while the Rays could be seeing the return of Carlos Peña to their lineup just in time for the Texas, Tampa Bay series.
The Texas Rangers continue their trek through the big boys of the American League East when they take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-game series at Tropicana Field beginning on Monday night.
Texas (67-49 SU, +3.41 units) is in the midst of an eight-game stretch against the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays, and it’s 3-2 so far. The Rangers split a two-game set at home against New York before snagging two of three from Boston over the weekend at Rangers Ballpark.
The three-gamer against Tampa Bay (71-46 SU, +4.80 units) is the first road series of the stint, and in a macro sense, that’s good news for Texas backers. The Rangers are the sixth-best road wager on the baseball betting odds board at 28-26 against the money line (+4.26 units), while the Rays are the fourth-worst home bet at 36-24 (-5.30 units).
Texas also continues its seemingly easy path to the AL West title this week. The Rangers are 8.5 games ahead of the Angels, who haven’t been able to make a dent despite Texas’ pedestrian play over the last month. The Rangers are 17-13 SU in their last 30 ballgames, during which they’ve gone 8-20-2 O/U.
The series is a much bigger one for Tampa Bay, which has been in a dogfight with New York for best team in baseball status since the beginning of the season. After taking two of three from Baltimore over the weekend, the Rays trailed the Yankees by a game in the AL East.
Recent success against the Orioles aside, Tampa Bay is treading water lately: The Rays are 4-7 against the moneyline in their last 11 games.
That said, I like Tampa Bay as +100 underdogs in the series opener on Monday night (7:10 p.m. ET) with ace David Price (15-5, 2.84 ERA) taking the ball.
Price and the Rays are dogged with Cliff Lee (10-5, 2.57 ERA) going for the Rangers, who are overvalued as -120 money line chalk.
Lee is a nice pickup for surely playoff-bound Texas, but bettors haven’t reaped the rewards of yet. The Rangers are only 3-4 against the money line in Lee’s seven starts since coming over from Seattle, although the left-hander does have three complete games.
A better bet when Lee toes the rubber is the ‘under.’ Texas has played ‘over’ only once in Lee’s seven outings. Monday night’s total is listed at 7, and it’s definitely the sharp wager.
Consider a parlay on Tampa Bay and the ‘under’ with Price throwing at home. Price has put up a 2.04 ERA at the Trop this season, and the Rays are 7-3 in his 10 outings there.
The Rangers had yet to announce their starter for Tuesday night’s game (7:10 p.m. ET) as of press time. Rich Harden was the scheduled starter, but he went on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder tendonitis on Sunday.
Harden isn’t the only player that’ll miss the series for Texas. Ian Kinsler (strained left groin) and Christian Guzman (strained right quadriceps) are both on the 15-day DL, while Nelson Cruz (hamstring) is questionable.
Cruz, who’s been on the 15-day DL twice this season with a hamstring injury, was set to have an MRI on his leg on Monday. He was hopeful to play in the opener, but make sure to check his status prior to game time.
Matt Garza (11-7, 3.92 ERA) takes the mound on Tuesday night for Tampa Bay. The right-hander allowed four runs over 5 2-3 innings to pick up the win in the Rays’ 9-5 victory over the Rangers on June 6 in Arlington.
Joe Maddon turns to James Shields (10-11, 4.98 ERA) in Wednesday afternoon’s series finale (1:10 p.m. ET), while Ron Washington gives the ball to Tommy Hunter (9-1, 3.38 ERA). Both Shields (6.61 ERA) and Hunter (8.76 ERA) have hurt bettors over their last three outings.
Over the long haul, however, Hunter’s been a revelation. The Rangers are 11-2 against the money line in Hunter’s 13 starts in 2010, including a 6-1 win over the Rays on June 5 when Hunter went the distance to get the victory.
With a 15-5 mark in its last 20 games at home, Tampa Bay could get Carlos Peña (strained plantar fascia ligament) back in the lineup for the series.
The Rangers will likely miss Nelson Cruz from their lineup the next few days while the Rays could be seeing the return of Carlos Peña to their lineup just in time for the Texas, Tampa Bay series.
The Texas Rangers continue their trek through the big boys of the American League East when they take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-game series at Tropicana Field beginning on Monday night.
Texas (67-49 SU, +3.41 units) is in the midst of an eight-game stretch against the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays, and it’s 3-2 so far. The Rangers split a two-game set at home against New York before snagging two of three from Boston over the weekend at Rangers Ballpark.
The three-gamer against Tampa Bay (71-46 SU, +4.80 units) is the first road series of the stint, and in a macro sense, that’s good news for Texas backers. The Rangers are the sixth-best road wager on the baseball betting odds board at 28-26 against the money line (+4.26 units), while the Rays are the fourth-worst home bet at 36-24 (-5.30 units).
Texas also continues its seemingly easy path to the AL West title this week. The Rangers are 8.5 games ahead of the Angels, who haven’t been able to make a dent despite Texas’ pedestrian play over the last month. The Rangers are 17-13 SU in their last 30 ballgames, during which they’ve gone 8-20-2 O/U.
The series is a much bigger one for Tampa Bay, which has been in a dogfight with New York for best team in baseball status since the beginning of the season. After taking two of three from Baltimore over the weekend, the Rays trailed the Yankees by a game in the AL East.
Recent success against the Orioles aside, Tampa Bay is treading water lately: The Rays are 4-7 against the moneyline in their last 11 games.
That said, I like Tampa Bay as +100 underdogs in the series opener on Monday night (7:10 p.m. ET) with ace David Price (15-5, 2.84 ERA) taking the ball.
Price and the Rays are dogged with Cliff Lee (10-5, 2.57 ERA) going for the Rangers, who are overvalued as -120 money line chalk.
Lee is a nice pickup for surely playoff-bound Texas, but bettors haven’t reaped the rewards of yet. The Rangers are only 3-4 against the money line in Lee’s seven starts since coming over from Seattle, although the left-hander does have three complete games.
A better bet when Lee toes the rubber is the ‘under.’ Texas has played ‘over’ only once in Lee’s seven outings. Monday night’s total is listed at 7, and it’s definitely the sharp wager.
Consider a parlay on Tampa Bay and the ‘under’ with Price throwing at home. Price has put up a 2.04 ERA at the Trop this season, and the Rays are 7-3 in his 10 outings there.
The Rangers had yet to announce their starter for Tuesday night’s game (7:10 p.m. ET) as of press time. Rich Harden was the scheduled starter, but he went on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder tendonitis on Sunday.
Harden isn’t the only player that’ll miss the series for Texas. Ian Kinsler (strained left groin) and Christian Guzman (strained right quadriceps) are both on the 15-day DL, while Nelson Cruz (hamstring) is questionable.
Cruz, who’s been on the 15-day DL twice this season with a hamstring injury, was set to have an MRI on his leg on Monday. He was hopeful to play in the opener, but make sure to check his status prior to game time.
Matt Garza (11-7, 3.92 ERA) takes the mound on Tuesday night for Tampa Bay. The right-hander allowed four runs over 5 2-3 innings to pick up the win in the Rays’ 9-5 victory over the Rangers on June 6 in Arlington.
Joe Maddon turns to James Shields (10-11, 4.98 ERA) in Wednesday afternoon’s series finale (1:10 p.m. ET), while Ron Washington gives the ball to Tommy Hunter (9-1, 3.38 ERA). Both Shields (6.61 ERA) and Hunter (8.76 ERA) have hurt bettors over their last three outings.
Over the long haul, however, Hunter’s been a revelation. The Rangers are 11-2 against the money line in Hunter’s 13 starts in 2010, including a 6-1 win over the Rays on June 5 when Hunter went the distance to get the victory.
With a 15-5 mark in its last 20 games at home, Tampa Bay could get Carlos Peña (strained plantar fascia ligament) back in the lineup for the series.
