ODDS ANALYSIS
The Rangers are ecstatic to be hitting the road after dropping the first two games of a quick three-game homestand with AL West Division rival Oakland. Wednesday’s 8-2 loss was their fourth straight and they dropped five of six scoring better than two runs just once in that stretch.
The Rangers cashed the under in each of their last four road games and the under is 23-16 away from Globe Life Park. Texas remains the hottest road team in the majors going 22-17 up 16.77 units in their 39 away games.
The Blue Jays proved they are more than mashers, taking the rubber game of their series at Tampa Bay 1-0 in extra innings on Wednesday. The majors’ leading run scoring team was blanked for 11 frames before pushing one across in the 12th. Even though Toronto leads MLB with 5.47 runs per game and is a bit better at home averaging 5.76, the under is 20-15-2 in the Jays’ 37 games at Rogers Centre and they’ve cashed the under in Mark Buehrle’s last three starts.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Nick Martinez (5-3, 2.77 ERA) gave up three runs – two earned – over six innings Saturday in a loss at the White Sox. He’s 1-2 with a 4.84 ERA in his past four starts but has been stellar on the road going 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in seven starts this season.
He’s made one career start against the Jays, allowing one run in five innings on May 18, 2014, taking a no-decision.
Mark Buehrle (7-4, 3.90 ERA) logged a quality start in a no-decision against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing just two runs on six hits over seven strong innings. He continues to make his slow start to the season a distant memory, allowing five earned runs over his last 37.2 innings to drop his ERA below 4.00 for the first time since Apr. 15.
Buehrle is 13-5 with a 3.29 ERA with 21 starts in his 24 career appearances against Texas spanning 150.1 innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I feel like I battled my butt off. It could have gone real bad for me at many points, but I didn’t give in. I’d give myself an A-plus for not giving it.” – Rangers pitcher Nick Martinez after escaping numerous jams to record a quality start Saturday against the White Sox.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Rangers welcomed back Adrian Beltre to the lineup on Tuesday after missing 19 games with a sprained left thumb, hoping the slugger can regain his form and infuse a spark into what has become a stagnant Rangers offense. Beltre expressed frustration about his injured digit over the weekend and made it clear he still had some pain when swinging the bat. “I can’t remember the last time I played without pain,” Beltre said. “It’s just a matter of tolerating it.” Beltre skipped a rehab assignment and jumped into the starting lineup Tuesday, getting a hit in four at-bats with a sac fly in his first game since May 19. It’ll take some reps to get his swing back, but having him in the lineup gives the Rangers another big stick and options.
PROP TALK
After two undistinguished seasons in Minnesota where he played a combined 114 games and hit .214, Chris Colabello is fitting nicely into the Blue Jays’ destructive lineup. Colabello has taken over the starting left field job by smacking the snot out of the baseball, something few saw coming, except for maybe Colabello. He’s hit safely in 10 of 11 games with his only hit Wednesday the game-winning home run in the top of the 12th inning at Tampa Bay. He’s more of an on-base guy and has scored 10 runs in his last 10 games and 30 this season in just 44 games.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
For whatever reason, the Rangers just play better baseball on the road. At least as far as the results go. And really, that’s all that matters. As good as the Rangers are on the road, the Jays are as good at home, setting the stage for an interesting series. Getting Adrian Beltre back in the lineup gives the Rangers a powerful bat from the right side of the plate, breaking up a lefty-heavy order. Beltre’s presence, along with Prince Fielder and Joey Gallo, gives the Rangers enough sock to contend with the Blue Jays, and they get the job done behind Nick Martinez, who’s been impressive all season.
Texas 6, Toronto 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 Toronto Blue Jays will commence Friday, June 26, 2015, at 7:07 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre. The game will be televised live on RSN and FSSW.
