The Texas Rangers are playing host to the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Park in Arlington. This AL matchup will begin at 2:05 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Southwest will televise the game.
Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers Odds
Toronto (-200) is the favorite against Texas (+170) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this day game at 9.5 runs. The odds for betting on the games total sit at +100 for the over and -120 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the runline odds sitting at +105 for the Blue Jays +1.5 runs and -115 for the Rangers -1.5.
The Rangers are 4-6 SU and 3-6 ATS. The team has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors and 4.6 units against the spread (ATS). Texas has covered the spread just twice in its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven. The Blue Jays have gone 5-4 SU this year and are 5-3 ATS. In total, the teams gained 0.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline in the seasons early going and 3.5 units ATS.
Rangers games have a 3-5-1 over/under record so far in 2018. Toronto has an over/under record of 3-5.
The Blue Jays have gained 2.0 units and are 2-0 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in one of those games, as opposed to one that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rangers have netted 0.7 units and are 1-1 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The overs cashed in zero of those games, compared to two that went under.
The left-handed Jaime Garcia (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Blue Jays. Garcia started 27 games last year while finishing the season 5-10 overall with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.
The Rangers are going with lefty Cole Hamels (1-1, 3.38 ERA) as their starter. Hamels started 24 games last year and finished the season 11-6 overall with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.
Texas pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The clubs starters have a 4.25 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.89 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 9.2 K/9.
Texas offense is putting up 3.4 runs per contest, including 4.4 per game over its last five. The team has hit .274/.324/.402 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Rangers batters have been led by Shin-soo Choo and Elvis Andrus. Choo is slashing .314/.385/.629 with 11 hits, five RBIs and five runs scored, while Andrus is batting .385 with 15 hits, three RBIs and five runs.
Choo didn’t seem to enjoy hitting against lefties at home last season, slashing .254/.362/.305 across 69 such plate appearances (compared to his overall season line of .261/.357/.423).
In the visiting dugout, Toronto’s pitching staff allowed 4.2 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.83 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 8.94 K/9. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.03, along with a WHIP of 1.37 and a K/9 of 9.10.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .225/.307/.436 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game this year, including over the teams last five contests (3-2 SU).
Toronto’s hitters have been led by first baseman Justin Smoak and third baseman Yangervis Solarte. Smoak is hitting .344/.436/.688 with 11 hits, 10 RBIs and six runs scored, while Solarte is hitting .250/.400/.583 with six hits, two homers, three RBIs and four runs scored.
Solarte did not do especially well against lefty pitching last year, maintaining a slash line of .211/.275/.289 across 142 plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .255/.314/.416).
Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Rangers went 3-4 SU against the Blue Jays in 2017.
- The Rangers bullpen managed 1.71 ERA against the Blue Jays last year.
