MLB Team Preview – Texas Rangers Betting
Same old, Same old. MLB betting fans shake their heads when they look at the Texas Rangers‘ 2009 roster. Nothing has changed in Arlington since the days when a certain former U.S. President owned them. Bandbox ballpark, powerful hitters, and a completely empty cupboard in the pitching department.
Those who bet on MLB have to hand it to the Rangers for their ability to find big, strong hitters well-suited to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Texas was already in good hands with steady Michael Young and budding superstar Ian Kinsler manning the infield. Then came the Josh Hamilton trade, which shipped potential ace Edinson Volquez off but brought one of the most naturally gifted ballplayers on the planet to Texas. Hamilton remains an injury risk but his MVP-caliber 2008 was no fluke; you can bet on a repeat at the offshore sportsbook.
The big bats keep on coming. 2008 Late-season callups Chris Davis and Nelson Cruz add more prodigious power to a lineup that didn’t even need it. We’re not talking warning-track pop for Davis or Cruz either; we’re talking 40-homer upside if everything clicks for the youngsters.
So the Rangers will score runs in droves, especially at home. But what else is new? Their Achilles heel – a severe lack of competent pitching – remains as prominent as ever. Kevin Millwood and Vincente Padilla “anchor” a patchwork rotation that currently lists Matt Harrison, who didn’t look major-league ready in posting a 5.49 ERA last year, as its No. 3 starter. It’s a good thing the Rangers have so much offense, because they’ll have to score a ton to stay in games. Make sure you bet the “over” in any MLB lines featuring the Rangers at home this season.
The Rangers’ bullpen isn’t world-class but it shouldn’t be a weakness either. Frank Francisco has the kind of overpowering stuff that sets him up well to close games for the Rangers; he struck out 83 batters in 63 1/3 innings last season. Setup men C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit have both taken the ball in the ninth before and should be capable seventh and eighth-inning guys as a result.
The Rangers look a lot like the Tampa Bay Rays of several years ago in that they have plenty of young offensive talent but won’t make a leap until they develop or acquire pitching to match it. The prognosis therefore has to be for another mediocre year in Texas. Even though their division looks weak in the 2009 MLB odds, the Rangers won’t make much noise with one of the bottom-three pitching staffs in baseball.
