GAME 1
SERIES
Fri 10/4 Tampa Bay Rays T Glasnow +1½ -105 +225 o7½ +105 2:05PM Houston Astros J Verlander -1½ -105 -235 u7½ -115
Fri 10/4 Tampa Bay Rays (Series) +260 2:05PM Houston Astros (Series) -290
First thing that sticks out. What's up with the run line?
I won't bet home teams on a run line, if I did I would think Verlander at home -1.5 at 'pick em is very affordable. Too affordable, conversely I would want more than 'pick em if I were to take Tampa Bay at +1.5
Tyler Glasnow (RHP) starts for Tampa Bay.
Glasnow was off to a solid start before he went down with a forearm injury in May.
He came back after 90 days on the IL on Sept 8 made four September starts was babied by the coaching staff in all of the starts with a strict pitch count. Glasnow was excellent in all four starts however never seeing the fifth inning.
The team was 4-0 when he pitched those September game, Glasnow was 0-0 with four no decision wins.
Struck out 21 in 12 2/3 innings which is eye popping, had an ERA of 1.42 and a WH/IP ratio of 0.78, but those numbers are on short innings,
For the season Glasnow was 6-1 (the same before he went down) in 12 starts.
ERA of 1.78 WH/IP ratio of 0.89. He struck out 76 in only 60 2/3 innings which works out to an outstanding rate of 11.3 per nine innings.
Here's the thing I have to point out before coming over to the Rays in a trade from Pittsburg Glasnow was terrible as a starter, butt ugly, Glasnow and Austin Meadow came over too in that deal for Chris Archer.
Many thought that was highway robbery for Pittsburg as Archer was the team ace and Glasnow was a gas can.
Meadows this year hit 33 HR, hit .291 and stole 12 bases too.
Those two were very instrumental in the Rays playoff push (who knew?)
Now for the bad news if your'e a Rays fan, you get to play the Astros today, and face future Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander to boot.
I'm not going to write up either Houston or Verlander (he's 42-15 since coming over from Detroit), as neither have very few flaws, and you know their stories anyway.
I'm not going to bet either side, if you want to take a small shot on the Rays at +225 OK as long as it's small.
Here's a couple of angles for you if you do take the Rays.
1) Glasnow was undefeated on the road this year in 6 away starts.
He was 4-0 as a road warrior in those six starts, pitched 33 innings and struck out 43 which is almost 12 K's per nine innings, only gave up 1 HR, gave up only two earned runs which is an ERA of 0.55 and a WH/IP of 0.67.
And he was death versus left handed batters.
Unhittable (but a short sample size)2) Tampa has a lot of momentum going for them with that road wild card victory over Oakland.
I can't fade either Verlander nor Houston.
What I can do is bet the under here here in this spot (7.5 runs -115)
I can't see eight total runs this afternoon in Houston.
My play:
Under 7.5 (-115) for 1* -115 for your pal Nasher
Postseason to date.+ 1.4*
Wagers are 2-1 (hit my Cards play yesterday at +120) and my selections are 3-1.