Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Indians Betting Preview 04/30/18

The Cleveland Indians are set to host the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field. SportsTime Ohio will be televising this AL matchup and the action gets underway at 6:10 p.m. ET.

Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Indians Odds

Vegas is listing Texas (+170) as the underdog to Cleveland (-180). The total sits at eight runs and bettors can wager on the over for -115 and the under for -105. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds standing at Rangers +1.5 runs (-130) and Indians +-1.5 runs (+110).

The Rangers are only 11-18 SU and have gone 12-16 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 0.7 units for moneyline gamblers over the early part of the season and 7.8 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven. The Indians, on the other hand, are 14-12 SU and 9-16 ATS. The team’s lost 2.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 8.0 units ATS. Cleveland has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.

Cleveland games have had an over/under record of 10-15 so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 14-13-1.

Left-hander Cole Hamels will get the nod for the visiting Rangers. Hamels is 1-4 with a 4.41 ERA and 39 strikeouts. He has yet to face Cleveland this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 0-0 record with an 8.71 ERA and five strikeouts.

The Indians are handing the ball to righty Trevor Bauer (2-2, 2.41 ERA), who has 35 strikeouts and 13 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.10. Bauer only made one start against the Rangers in 2017 (1-0, 1.42 ERA and three strikeouts across six and 1-third innings).

As a unit, Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 3.30 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.07 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 8.8 K/9.

The Cleveland offense is putting up 3.7 runs per contest, including 3.9 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team has hit .242/.306/.515 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.

Third baseman Jose Ramirez and left fielder Michael Brantley have led the Indians’ batters so far. Ramirez is hitting .260/.351/.510 with seven home runs, 14 RBIs and 12 runs scored, while Brantley is batting .348 with 24 hits, 10 RBIs and five runs.

Ramirez saw a slight drop-off in production when facing lefty pitching at home last season, slashing .295/.340/.442 across 103 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .318/.374/.583).

For the visiting squad, Texas’ pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 5.06 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.29 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.15, along with a K-per-9 of 8.31.

The Rangers offense has slashed .234/.307/.382 on its way to 3.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).

First baseman Joey Gallo and third baseman Adrian Beltre have led Texas’ offense. Gallo is hitting .224/.308/.486 with eight home runs, 19 RBIs and 17 runs scored, while Beltre is hitting .310/.366/.437 with one homers, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored.

Beltre didn’t seem to enjoy hitting against righty pitching on the road last season. Over 166 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .255/.307/.458 (his overall season line was .312/.383/.532).

The Rangers have gained 1.1 units and are 10-11 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in nine of those games, compared to 11 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Indians have netted 2.4 units and are 2-5 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in two of those games, as opposed to five that’ve cashed the under.

Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Indians MLB Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER