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The Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays have played one of the strangest playoff series anyone has ever seen. Managerial decisions on both sides have been odd. Umpiring has been wildly inconsistent. Games have seemingly be closely run things for the most part, yet no game has been decided by only one run. And oh yes, all four games have been won by the road team.
Needless to say, live bettors have their work cut out for them in what could be a highly unpredictable Game 5 at the Rogers Centre.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Marcus Stroman might ultimately give the Blue Jays the best shot of winning this series, and that's why he is going to be on the mound on Wednesday afternoon. The big issue live bettors will have though, is that he wasn't fantastic in Game 2 of this series right here in this venue.
Stroman allowed five hits and four runs over seven frames, though it should be noted that the last of those runs came off of a blown save by Brett Cecil to kick off the eighth. Stroman was clearly left in one batter too long, but he'll probably have quite the short leash in this game, knowing that the season is on the line.
Texas is countering with the man who started Game 2 as well in Cole Hamels. This really makes a lot of sense, and live bettors have to love it. Hamels was a big game pitcher in the playoffs for the Phillies for a lot of years, and he isn't going to be intimidated by this moment.
Yes, Hamels allowed six hits and four runs in seven innings in Game 2, but he also didn't walk a batter and has generally been pretty darn special since coming over from Philly at the trade deadline.
ADVANCED STATS
The Rangers feel like they should have a lot of power, but thus far in the playoffs, that just hasn't been the case. The only man with more than 10 at bats to be hitting anywhere near .300 is Delino DeShields Jr., and men Texas has come to rely upon like Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor, Josh Hamilton, Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland are really underachieving.
In fact, Fielder and Moreland in the middle of that Texas lineup have combined for exactly zero extra base hits thus far in the postseason and just two total hits. Something needs to give if live bettors are going to cash winning tickets on the Rangers, and somewhere along the way, these two need to be improved for that to happen.
TALKING BULLPENS
Here's the big question: Will David Price pitch in relief for the Jays? John Gibbons has already shown no faith whatsoever in his pen when he let Price throw 50 pitches in three innings in relief of R.A. Dickey in Game 4. Price says that he's ready to go again if need be, and it wouldn't be unprecedented for him to do so. However, as live bettors, we look at this possibility and cringe. At the first sight of Price even remotely warming up, we want Texas. The Rangers have always had Price's number in the playoffs, and eight runs on 11 hits in 10 innings in this series is proof enough to us that the move to Toronto didn't do him any good from that standpoint.
The MLB odds for this game were available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. The Toronto Blue Jays opened up at -190 alongside a total of 8. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker's new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here, and start wagering today! First pitch for Game 5 of the NLDS between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers is scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre. The contest will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
