The Toronto Blue Jays are making a road trip to Arlington to take on the Rangers at Globe Life Park. The game gets underway 7:05 p.m. ET and Fox Sports Southwest will broadcast this AL showdown.
Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Toronto (+130) as the underdog to Texas (-150). The total stands at 10 runs and bettors can wager on the over for -105 or the under for -115. Gamblers can also bet on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at -115 for the Blue Jays -1.5 runs and +105 for the Rangers +1.5.
The Blue Jays are 4-3 SU and have gone 4-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 0.1 units for moneyline gamblers this year, despite having gained 2.4 units ATS. The Rangers are 3-5 SU and 2-5 ATS. They’ve lost 2.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.2 units ATS.
Rangers games have a 2-5 over/under record so far in 2018. Toronto has an over/under record of 2-5.
The Blue Jays have gained 1.0 units and are 1-0 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in zero of those games, as opposed to one that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Rangers have lost 2.7 units and are 1-4 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in two of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under.
Marco Estrada (0-0, 3.86 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Blue Jays. The right-handed Estrada struck out 176 hitters across 186 innings last year (with 71 walks) while finishing the season 10-9 overall with a 4.98 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He made two starts against the Rangers in 2017 and put together a 1-0 record against them with a 6.52 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
The Rangers are going with lefty Matt Moore (0-1, 9.00 ERA) as their starter. Moore started 31 games last year while finishing the season 6-15 overall with a 5.52 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.
Texas’ pitching staff has yielded 4.4 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have a 3.89 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.40 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 9.4 K/9.
Texas’ offense is putting up 3.0 runs per contest, including 3.0 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .217/.276/.342 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Rangers’ batters have been led by right fielder Nomar Mazara and shortstop Elvis Andrus. Mazara is hitting .357/.419/.500 with 10 hits, two RBIs and six runs scored, and the line for Andrus stands at .333/.394/.533 with 10 hits, two RBIs and four runs.
Mazara seemed to enjoy hitting righty pitching at home last season. Across 240 such plate appearances, he slashed .312/.379/.526 (his total season line was .253/.323/.422).
For the visiting squad, Toronto’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.76 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 9.08 K/9. The bullpen has managed an excellent ERA of just 2.31, along with a WHIP of 1.29 and a K-per-9 of 10.03.
Blue Jays hitters have slashed .237/.310/.452 on their way to 5.1 runs scored per game this season, including over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Toronto’s offensive production been led by first baseman Justin Smoak and third baseman Josh Donaldson. Smoak is hitting .385/.467/.808 with 10 hits, nine RBIs and five runs scored, while Donaldson is slashing .250/.400/.542 with six hits, two homers, four RBIs and seven runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .270/.385/.559, Donaldson enjoyed hitting against left-handed pitchers on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .333/.439/.771 across 57 such plate appearances.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Rangers went 3-4 SU against the Blue Jays in 2017.
The Blue Jays’ bullpen posted 2.73 ERA against the Rangers last year.
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