The Rangers owned the American League’s best road record last season, which was a big part of their AL West winning run. Texas gets a chance early to see if the road magic exists in 2016 with the first of seven straight in the backyard of a division foe.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
If the season opener is an omen, Texas looks to be in a good position to defend its AL West title. The Rangers managed just one hit and still were able to knock off their nemesis Felix Hernandez in an opening 3-2 comeback win over the Mariners. Thursday’s contest opens a four-game set with the Halos and is the first of seven straight on the road against division foes. Texas heads to Seattle for a three-game series after this one.
Hitting the trail didn’t faze the Rangers last season with their path to the division title won away from home. Texas owned the American League’s best road record at 45-36 and appears set to make another run at a division title. Opening with the Cubs and Rangers will give the Halos a chance to see what they’ve got early. Both opponents were division winners in 2015 and a favorite among oddsmakers to repeat.
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Derek Holland missed four months of the 2015 season with a shoulder injury and struggled with the long ball upon his return. He made 10 starts last season, posting a 4-3 record with a 4.91 ERA, but surrendered 11 home runs in 58.2 innings.
Holland had a nice spring and seems to be throwing as well as he did prior to his injury. Two of his better outings came against the Angels last season, including an 8.0 inning stint when he gave up just three hits and a run. He won both of his starts against the Angels with a 2.51 ERA.
The Angels were undecided on a starter for the series opener. With C.J. Wilson on the disabled list and the declining effectiveness of Jered Weaver, the spot likely falls to lefty Hector Santiago, who started a career-best 32 games last season.
His numbers were solid with a 9-9 record and 3.59 ERA, however, he wilted in the second half. Santiago earned his first All-Star Game nod going 6-4 with a 2.33 ERA in the first half but his ERA was 5.47 in 15 post-break starts. His 29 homers surrendered were tied for most in the AL.
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Two pitchers prone to surrendering the big fly oppose one another in the first of this series. Santiago gave up 29 in 180.2 innings last season, while Holland allowed 11 in 58.2 innings, and another three in two playoff innings. That’s welcome news to the power hitters on each side. Adrian Beltre has three homers in 28 career at-bats off Santiago with Albert Pujols and Mike Trout combining for five long balls in their career hacks against Holland.
QUICK PICK
The Angels will lean on Santiago in the middle of the rotation and are hopeful the little lefty can flash the form of last season’s first half for an entire year. Santiago was sharp in the first few months before fading after the All-Star Game. He had plenty of success against Texas last season going 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in six starts and was a much better pitcher at home with a 2.65 ERA over 17 starts at Angel Stadium. The Halos are not expected to contend but this is a big AL West series for them against the defending division champs who beat them out by three games last year. Wins in April are just as important as wins in September and one to start the series will help the Halos.
Los Angeles 5, Texas 4
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. 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!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Texas Rangers versus the Los Angeles Angels will commence Thursday, April 7, 2016, at 10:05 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The contest will be televised nationally on FS1.
