Will a home team win a game in the ALDS between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers? If the answer to that question remains "No" after Monday, both teams will be headed back to the Great White North for a do-or-die duel on Wednesday.
PITCHING MATCHUP
R.A. Dickey and Derek Holland just don't strike us as postseason pitchers at this point in their careers. Sure, Dickey threw 214.1 innings and posted a somewhat respectable 3.91 ERA, but you never know what you're going to get out of the knuckleball on a nightly basis. Furthermore, Holland has had nothing but troubles with his arm for the last couple seasons, and it's amazing that he's starting a postseason game after throwing just 58.2 innings this year and barely breaking an ERA of 5.00.
Either way, we don't expect either of these men to go deep into this one. Live bettors won't get the benefit of seeing if Dickey can keep his knuckleball dancing. At first sight of problems, John Gibbons is going to get him out of there, and all of his bullets are going to be useable in his gun.
Holland hasn't gotten through more than 6.1 innings since September 10, and we can't imagine that this will be an exception.
The lefty allowed 11 homers in those 58.2 innings this year, which is horrible news against a Toronto team which can really mash the baseball and won't take any prisoners.
ADVANCED STATS
You knew it was a matter of time until the Jays woke up and scored some runs. They did so on Sunday, plating five, four of which came off of the bat of Troy Tulowitzki.
Globe Life Park is one of the best places to drive the baseball in America, and that can only bode well for a team which had four different men, not including Tulo, post slugging percentages of at least .500. Yes, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson have all struggled here in the playoffs, but live bettors should be aware of what they're capable of. Two of the three have already gone yard in the playoffs, while Donaldson blasted a double in the gap to help get him rolling on Sunday.
Any given inning could be a dangerous one here in this park, particularly against a man like Holland who has given up a ton of homers this year.
TALKING BULLPENS
The only factor in this game we're really worried about from Toronto's standpoint is if Dickey has to come out early. Who would end up being the long reliever? There's a reason that John Gibbons has kept his bullpen relatively short and tight here in the playoffs through three games, and outside of the bad outing by the normally reliable LaTroy Hawkins, there hasn't been much to complain at.
At least for Texas, we know there are men down in that bullpen who can throw multiple frames, and it if comes down to it, Yovani Gallardo could even enter the game, knowing that Cole Hamels could throw Game 5 on normal rest if need be.
It's all very interesting to follow for live betting purposes, but if you were to tell us that both of these starters would be out of the game in the fifth inning in a tie game and asked us to pick a side, we'd have more confidence in Texas' pitchers than anything else.
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at 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!
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 4 of the ALDS between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays is scheduled for Monday, October 12, 2015 at 4:05 p.m. ET at Globe Life Park. The contest will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
