The Rangers are 11-4 record in their last 15 home games with the OVER cashing at 10-5 in that span. Ron Washington’s club opens a three-game set at Rangers Ballpark with Monday’s battle against the Detroit Tigers. Do we place Texas in our MLB picks?
Both squads have slated right-handed starters with Texas’ Justin Grimm (1-0, 4.50 ERA) opposing Detroit’s Rick Porcello (4-5, 4.95 ERA). MLB odds makers opened Grimm as a 175 favorite, while first listing the ‘total’ at a flat 11.
Grimm goes six in debut
Grimm made his MLB debut in Saturday’s 8-3 triumph for Texas as a 190 home favorite against the Houston Astros. The 23-year-old allowed all three of Houston’s runs, while tossing seven strikeouts over six innings.
Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz cracked a homer, while mates Adrian Beltre and David Murphy each hit 2-for-4. The trio united for five RBIs from the heart of Texas’ lineup, with their squad edging out Houston in hits, 11-9.
The contest’s combined 11 runs leaped above the ‘total’ of 10 ½ by a ‘hook.’ Rangers reliever Robbie Ross recorded a hold for his staff, allowing no hits in the seventh frame, while Texas’ Elvis Andrus and Michael Young both had 0-for-3 nights.
Porcello outdueled at home
Porcello logged his first loss in five starts with Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat for Detroit as a 120 home favorite against the St. Louis Cardinals. The fourth-year hurler gave up two runs on 10 hits, lasting for a seven inning stint.
Detroit’s Austin Jackson drove in his lineup’s sole run, finishing 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot. Jackson’s mates Quintin Berry and Miguel Cabrera were held to a combined 0-for-8, leaving five men on base.
The tight duel’s four runs plunged below the ‘total’ of 10 ½, bringing the UNDER to 4-2 in Porcello’s last six outings. Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta recorded his squad’s sole error, while going 0-for-3 at the plate.
Back the UNDER in TexasMonday’s first pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. (ET). The weather forecast in Arlington calls for a 90 degree night with calm winds blowing left to right.
I am adding the UNDER in this matchup, following suit with my
MLB betting choice in Sunday’s Rangers-Rockies duel that cashed tickets. The ‘total’ has once again been set too high here by the oddsmakers, with the UNDER going 6-1 in Texas’ last seven games as a favorite of minus 150 to 200.
Grimm held the Astros to a stingy 1.00 WHIP in his debut and should hold his own in his second outing, continuing to fill Derek Holland’s spot in the rotation. Detroit has notched just 3.2 RPG in its last four road contests in Texas, while the Tigers have been held to 1.8 RPG in their last five games.
Porcello had a rough day at home against the Rangers back in April, giving up eight runs in the first inning. The New Jersey native has settled down a lot since then, with no more than four earned runs allowed in each of his last 10 outings.
Porcello’s last four road duels have seen the righty give up just one homer over the span of 21 1/3 IP. Last June’s most recent start in Texas saw Porcello allow just one run over six frames, leading to UNDER tickets collecting.
The UNDER has gotten the money at an 11-4 clip in Texas’ last 15 games against American League Central foes, while going 7-3-1 in the team’s last 11 home games with a ‘total’ of 11 or higher. Look for the bats of both sides to stay cooled off just enough here to cash UNDER tickets again in this spot.