The San Francisco Giants are the hottest team in the Majors since the All-Star break and they continue their quest to overtake the Dodgers in the NL West. Texas won the Cole Hamels sweepstakes and looks to improve on its MLB-worst home record when the teams meet in the second of a three-game set.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The best team since the All-Star break is the San Francisco Giants and they are surging towards the top of the NL West. The Giants completed a 5-1 homestand with a 5-0 victory over the Brewers on Wednesday and are 10-2 to start the season’s second half, up 7.39 units on the moneyline. The Giants have gotten excellent pitching during their streak, allowing just 23 runs in 10 games with the under at 6-3-1 in that span. As good as the Giants have been recently, their fortunes can change quickly. San Francisco has an eight- and seven-game losing streak already this season and has lost at least five games in a row four times. They take on a Rangers team that is abysmal at home with just two wins in 14 games at Globe Life Park and that’s after a 5-2 victory over the Yankees on Wednesday. Overall the Rangers are 17-28 at home down 10.67 units
PITCHING MATCHUP
Tim Hudson (6-8, 4.80 ERA) posted an unremarkable start in Sunday’s win over the A’s, allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings. While he’s still capable of posting workman-like starts from time-to-time, the overall numbers are not impressive as the veteran righty now boasts a 4.80 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across 101.1 innings.
Hudson hasn’t faced the Rangers since June 17, 2008 as a member of the Atlanta Braves.
The Rangers will shuffle their rotation with scheduled starter Matt Harrison being dealt to Philadelphia in the Cole Hamels trade. Hamels hasn’t pitched since tossing his first no-hitter last Saturday against the Cubs. It’s unlikely he gets the nod so soon after a trade.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“It doesn’t matter where you’re at right now, to be honest. It’s a little early to be doing that. It’s all about going out there, playing well and winning ballgames. It’s pretty simple at this stage. There’s a lot of baseball left.” – Manager Bruce Bochy, whose Giants moved within a half game of the first place Dodgers after Wednesday’s win.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Rangers won the Cole Hamels sweepstakes, getting the lefty from the Phillies for Matt Harrison and prospects. Texas was a bit of a surprise in the bidding for Hamels but Rangers’ GM John Daniels is looking more to the future than the present, though the Rangers are still within striking distance of the second wild card in the AL. Hamels is under contract for the next three seasons and will definitely help a rotation that’s been ravaged by injuries in 2015. With better luck the Rangers can return to championship contender status next season, banking on a rotation headlined by Hamels and Yu Darvish, who will be returning from Tommy John surgery. When the Rangers went to the World Series in 2010, three starters made at least 29 starts. In 2011, their top five starters made at least 30 starts.
PROP TALK
Buster Posey is a huge reason why the Giants have been on a tear since the All-Star break. Posey is quietly putting together an MVP-type season as SF closes in on first place in the NL West. Since the break Posey is hitting robust .410 with 16 hits in 39 at-bats but he has yet to add to his season total of 14 home runs. He has nine RBIs and scored six runs in his 10 post-break games and had an extra day of rest after sitting out Wednesday’s game against Milwaukee.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It doesn’t seem to matter who the Rangers start they have a terrible time winning in their own yard. Had they won a few more games this season in Globe Life Park we’d be talking about them holding down a playoff spot. All signs point to a Giants victory. SF is on a roll and the Rangers can’t win at home but, as we mentioned, the Giants are a streaky group and it’s about time for them to hit another downswing. Tim Hudson has been the weak link in an otherwise stellar rotation and the Rangers can celebrate a rare home win.
Texas 6, San Francisco 4
BookMaker will be the first online sportsbook to send out the baseball odds for this marquee matchup. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, player props and inning totals. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
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