The Toronto Blue Jays will be facing off against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. Fox Sports Southwest is in line to broadcast this AL matchup and the game gets going at 2:05 p.m. ET.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers Odds
Toronto (-200) is favored against Texas (+170) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this one at 9.5 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent 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). The Blue Jays are 5-4 SU and have gone 5-3 ATS. In total, the team’s gained 0.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year and 3.5 units ATS.
Rangers games have an over/under record of 3-5-1 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 lefty starter this season. The over has hit in one of those games, compared 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 left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in zero of those games, compared to two which went under the total.
The southpaw Jaime Garcia (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Blue Jays. Garcia started 27 games last year and finished the season 5-10 overall with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.
The Rangers will put the ball in the hands of lefty Cole Hamels (1-1, 3.38 ERA), who started 24 games last year and finished the season 11-6 overall with a 4.20 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.
Texas’ pitching staff has allowed 4.4 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.25, a WHIP of 1.54 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.2. The bullpen has a 3.89 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 9.2 K/9.
The Texas hitters are putting up 3.4 runs per contest, including 4.4 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .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 hitting .314/.385/.629 with 11 hits, five RBIs and five runs scored, and the line for Andrus stands at .385/.429/.538 with 15 hits, three RBIs and five runs.
Choo didn’t perform very well against lefties at home last season. Across 69 such plate appearances, he slashed .254/.362/.305 (his total season line was .261/.357/.423).
In the visiting dugout, Toronto’s pitchers have allowed 4.2 runs per game and its starters own a 4.83 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 8.94 K/9. The bullpen has logged a solid ERA of just 3.03, along with a K-per-9 of 9.10.
The Blue Jays offense has slashed .225/.307/.436 on its way to 5.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
First baseman Justin Smoak and third baseman Yangervis Solarte have led Toronto’s offense. Smoak is slashing .344/.436/.688 with 11 hits, 10 RBIs and six runs scored, while Solarte (.250/.400/.583) is up to six hits, two homers, three RBIs and four runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .255/.314/.416, Solarte had a little trouble hitting left-handed pitching last year, putting up a slash line of only .211/.275/.289 across 142 plate appearances.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Blue Jays went 4-3 SU against the Rangers last season.
The Blue Jays’ bullpen posted 2.73 ERA against the Rangers last year.
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