The Texas Rangers saw their seven-game win streak end with Saturday’s 11-7 setback against the Colorado Rockies. Colorado’s Wil Nieves and Dexter Fowler each cracked a homer. Sunday’s rubber match has Rangers lefty Matt Harrison squaring off with Rockies righty Alex White.
Harrison stays stingy at Petco
Harrison reeled off his fifth win in six starts with Monday’s 2-1 victory for Texas as a 172 road favorite against the San Diego Padres. The 26 year-old gave up San Diego’s sole run in the first inning, while logging four strikeouts over six frames.
Rangers outfielder David Murphy drove in both of his squad’s runs, while leadoff man Ian Kinsler finished 2-for-4. Texas’ Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli united to hit 0-for-7, with Napoli striking out three times.
The tight affair plunged below the ‘total’ of seven, bringing the UNDER to 6-1-1 in Harrison’s last eight starts. Rangers closer Joe Nathan notched his 14th save, while mates Mark Lowe and Mike Adams each picked up a hold for their staff.
White shelled early
White escaped with a no-decision in Wednesday’s 7-6 defeat for Colorado as a 140 road dog against the Philadelphia Phillies. The second-year hurler was yanked after 3 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits.
Colorado’s Wilin Rosario poked one of his lineup’s three homers, while adding a double. Rockies infielders Marco Scutaro and Todd Helton went a combined 0-for-9 at the plate, leaving five men on base, while each logging an error.
The contest’s 13 runs leaped above the ‘total’ of 9 ½, ending a 3-0 UNDER run from White’s prior trio of outings. Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt picked up his staff’s loss, allowing the Phillies to come from behind with two runs in the ninth frame.
Back the UNDER in TexasSunday’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (ET). The weather forecast in Arlington calls for a clear 95 degrees, with calm winds blowing left to right.
I am adding the UNDER in this spot, looking for the octane to die down from Saturday’s slugfest. UNDER backers have cashed at 4-1-1 in Harrison’s six home starts, while Texas has seen the UNDER collect at 10-3 in its last 13 battles against National League West foes.
Harrison tossed 7 1/3 innings of shutout ball in his most recent outing at Rangers Ballpark, helping his staff pull off a 1-0 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The UNDER is 5-2 in Harrison’s last seven interleague outings, while going 20-8-1 in Colorado’s last 29 interleague affairs against lefty starters.
White has had some shaky starts away from home recently, but has surrendered just one homer in 20 1/3 IP on the mounds of opposing parks. The North Carolina native has also held his own against American League lineups, giving up a combined six runs over 10 IP against the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics at Coors Field earlier this month.
Umpire Wally Bell is slated behind the plate, with the UNDER collecting at a 16-7-3 clip in his last 26 interleague contests. The span includes a 2-1 mark for UNDER tickets in the 47-year-old’s most recent three spots of calling balls and strikes.
Look for the UNDER to cash again here, with a finale tighter for both lineups than expected by the MLB oddsmakers.