The Texas Rangers will take on the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Fox Sports Southwest will broadcast this AL matchup and the game gets going at 1:07 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Toronto (-205) as the favorite over Texas (+187). Bettors are able to gamble on the game’s total with odds sitting at -115 for over 9 runs and -105 for under 9. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds coming in at Rangers +1.5 runs (-115) and Blue Jays -1.5 runs (-105).
The Blue Jays are 14-12 SU and 14-11 ATS. They’ve gained 2.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 3.5 units against the spread (ATS). Toronto has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. On the other hand, the Rangers have gone 11-17 SU this year and are 11-16 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 2.3 units for moneyline bettors in this young season and 8.8 units ATS. Texas is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Blue Jays games have an 11-12-2 over/under record so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 13-13-1.
Left-hander Martin Perez is the probable starter for the visiting Rangers. Perez is 2-2 with a 9.82 ERA and 11 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Blue Jays this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (1-0, 4.50 ERA and three strikeouts across six innings).
The Blue Jays are sending lefty J.A. Happ (3-1, 3.72 ERA) to the mound. Happ has 41 strikeouts and seven walks to his name, as well as a 1.10 WHIP. Happ did not record a start against the Rangers in 2017.
Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.95 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 7.37 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.14, along with a K-per-9 of 8.37.
Rangers hitters have slashed .235/.311/.383 on their way to 3.8 runs scored per game this year, including 4.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
First baseman Joey Gallo and shortstop Elvis Andrus have led Texas’ offense. Gallo is hitting .233/.319/.505 with eight home runs, 19 RBIs and 17 runs scored, while Andrus (.327/.426/.500) has produced two homers, five RBIs and seven runs scored.
Gallo didn’t seem to enjoy batting against lefties on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .192/.276/.404 across 58 such plate appearances (his total season line was .209/.332/.536).
In the other dugout, Toronto’s pitching staff has given up 4.3 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have an ERA of 5.39, a WHIP of 1.43 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.9. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.31, a WHIP of 1.24 and a K/9 of 9.1.
Toronto’s offense has put up 5.2 runs per outing, including 4.7 per game over its last 10 games and 3.8 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .200/.253/.424 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Blue Jays’ offense has been led by outfielders Kevin Pillar and Curtis Granderson. Pillar is hitting .309/.352/.536 with three home runs, 13 RBIs and 17 runs scored, and Granderson’s line is .317/.423/.567 with three homers, 12 RBIs and 11 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .255/.300/.403, Pillar enjoyed hitting against lefty pitching at home last year, slashing .333/.364/.583 over 77 such plate appearances.
The Rangers have lost 3.4 units and are 1-5 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in four of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have lost 1.8 units and are 7-4 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in six of those games, as opposed to four that’ve gone under.
Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Blue Jays have lost six of their last seven games SU.
Texas fielders have nine errors over the last 10 games, compared to four errors for Toronto over its last 10.
The Rangers have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
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