MLB Playoff Betting – Rangers vs Rays Game 1 Preview & Pick
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The Major League Baseball playoffs are here and it sure is nice to see some new teams back into the fray after sitting out the big dance for a decade or more. One of those teams is the Texas Rangers, who reached the postseason for the first time since 1999. They open the playoffs in Game 1 of the American League Division series against the American League East champion Tampa Bay Rays. Who will win the opener, which pits two powerhouse lefties against each other on the hill?
AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES: Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays
Game 1: Wednesday, October 6, 1:37 p.m. ET
Cliff Lee (12-9, 3.18) vs David Price (19-6, 2.72)
MLB odds: Rangers +111, Rays -121
The Texas Rangers flashed some serious lumber all season long, posting a Major-League best .276 team batting average. Their unquestioned offensive leader was Josh Hamilton, who batted an outstanding .359 with 32 homers and 100 RBI in an MVP-caliber season. But Hamilton had plenty of help. Vladimir Guerrero excelled in his first full season as a DH, posting a .300-29-115 line.
Vintage Vladdy. Michael Young also provided his usual consistent pop at third base and Nelson Cruz was phenomenal power-speed threat when he wasn’t on the DL – which he was often.
Considering that the Rangers barely even needed Ian Kinsler’s contribution this season – and that he’s due to bust out any moment now –they have one of baseball’s most dangerous lineups. More importantly, the Rangers have plenty of lefty killers. Kinsler hit .376 off them this year, Vladdy .338, Cruz .330 and Young .322.
Does that mean they could give Rays ace David Price some trouble in Game 1? 
On paper, it looks that way. In four career starts against the Rangers, Price is 0-2 with a 7.45 ERA. That said, some of those numbers reflect the “old” Price, the erratic youngster who walked too many batters and didn’t look ready for prime time. The dominant 2010 Price allowed just two runs over six innings in his lone start against the Rangers this year.
He also went 9-2 with a 1.96 ERA at Tropicana Field this season. So Price won’t make life easy for the Rangers despite their powerful bats.
Texas’ starting rotation seriously lacks playoff experience but at least the Rangers have a reliable guy at the top. Cliff Lee is one of baseball’s most efficient pitchers; he walked just 18 batters in 212.1 innings this season. Simply absurd. Lee also has a 2.87 lifetime ERA against Tampa over 13 starts.
Lee will have to be careful against a Tampa Bay lineup that rocked him for six runs the last time he faced them. With Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena (who has three homers off Lee in 29 at-bats) and B.J. Upton leading the charge, the Rays have plenty of guys who can hurt him.
But Lee enters the playoffs hot, having posted a 1.93 ERA in four September starts. More importantly, the guy is clutch. He was untouchable in 2009 playoffs with Philadelphia, going 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA. Considering that the Rangers’ collection of righty bats make them a tough matchup for Price on paper and that Lee is such a crafty playoff pitcher, I like the Rangers to upset Tampa in Game 1.
Don’t forget – if Lee gives the Rangers a lead, they can turn to the lights-out Neftali Feliz in the ninth.
ALDS Betting Trends:
Texas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas’s last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Texas’s last 9 games when playing Tampa Bay
Texas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay
Texas is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 6 games at home
Tampa Bay is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Tampa Bay’s last 9 games when playing Texas
Pick: Rangers +111
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