L.A. vs Texas MLB Betting Preview
The Angels are 4 games back of the Rangers in the AL West and it will be hard to get over last night’s loss allowing the Rangers to score 4 runs in the bottom of the 10th inning after taking the lead scoring 3 in the top of the 10th.
Venue/ Stadium: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Time/Date: 8:05 PM EST Thursday, August 2, 2012
MLB Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: Angels +100 / Rangers -115
Over/Under: 9.5 runs
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH C.J. Wilson (9-7, 2.88 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Ryan Dempster (NR)
L.A. Angels vs. Texas Rangers Preview
Tonight the Halos will face newly acquired Texas starter Ryan Dempster, who ranked 2nd in the NL in ERA before being shipped to Texas. MLB odds have the Rangers as slight home favorites with a total of 9.5 runs.
In yesterday’s barnburner the Rangers beat the Angels 11-10.
This season the Angels have an O/U record of 45-57 with a run-line W/L record of 55-50 and the Rangers have an O/U record of 44-56 with a run-line W/L record of 48-55.
On the season the Rangers are a AL best 33-21 at home and the Angels are 27-26 on the road.
Ex-Ranger C.J. Wilson (9-7, 2.88 ERA) goes for the Angels tonight and in his last outing he only gave up 2 earned runs in 6 innings, but did not get much run support in a loss to the Rays. Dempster (5-5, 2.25 ERA) makes his first start for the Rangers tonight and he gave up 3 earned runs in 6 innings in his last starting a loss to the Pirates.
While Wilson was 0-3 with a 4.23 ERA in 6 starts in July he is 7-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 11 starts in August over the last 2 years. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Dempster will be making his first career start against the Angels tonight.
Albert Pujols hit 2 HR for the 2nd straight game last night and in his career facing Dempster while with the Cardinals he hit .327 with 7 homers, 4 doubles and has only struck out twice.
The Angels could use a win in this game, as in their next series they face the White Sox, who are in first place in the AL Central, and the hot A’s, who trail the Halos by only 1/2 game in the AL West.
In some betting trends for this AL West match up 2-5 in their last 7 games as a road underdog, 7-2 in Wilson’s last 9 road starts, and they have an Over record of 14-4-1 in their last 19 road games.
The Rangers are 4-10 in their last 14 vs. a team with a winning record, 1-6 in their last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter, and they have an Under record of 12-3 in their last 15 home games.
In the last 5 games between these 2 rivals the posted total has gone Over 4 times.
Jason’s Pick: Dempster will have a solid first outing for Texas, but I think the Rangers will win behind a strong outing from Wilson.
