Saturday MLB Baseball Picks: Red Sox vs Rangers Game 2
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MLB Betting – Red Sox vs Rangers Preview & Pick
Date: Saturday, April 2, 2011
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, TX
Broadcast: NESN, FSH
Boston Red Sox vs Texas Rangers Betting Lines from Betus.com
Money Line: Red Sox +105, Rangers -125
Spread: Red Sox +1½-185, Rangers -1½+165
Total: Over 9.5 (EV), Under 9.5 -120
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Boston Red Sox
John Lackey (2010: 14-11, 4.40 ERA)
After nabbing Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez this offseason, the Boston Red Sox are the American League’s most hyped team. While they’re deserving of AL Pennant frontrunner status, they still need a few things to break right that didn’t last season. Getting full healthy years out of Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis is one thing.
Another is getting a better effort from John Lackey in his second campaign with the club. He wasn’t horrible by any means but he was more of a mediocre innings eater after being closer to an ace or at least an excellent No. 2 during his time with the Angels. A sloppy start was part of the problem for Lackey in 2010; he went 9-5 in the first half but had a 4.78 ERA over that span.
A trip to Rangers Ballpark may not be the way to get Lackey started on the right foot. In 16 career starts there, he has a 6.11 ERA and 13 homers allowed over 84 innings.
Texas Rangers
Colby Lewis (2010: 12-13. 3.72 ERA)
The Texas Rangers reached their first-ever World Series last year and want to build on that with another strong season. One man hugely responsible for the deep 2010 playoff run was Colby Lewis, who was lights-out for Texas after returning from a lengthy stint in Japan. For all the love Cliff Lee got, Lewis was just as effective last postseason, going 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA. 
Most of the Red Sox regulars haven’t seen Lewis much in their career. Only David Ortiz, Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron have more than 10 at-bats against him. So, while he’ll have to be careful against Big Papi (2 homers in 11 at-bats versus Lewis), Lewis could have deception going for him on Saturday.
MLB Trends:
BOS are 2-6 in their last 8 Sat. games.
Under is 35-15-5 in TEX last 55 Sat. games.
Under is 7-3-2 in Lewis’ last 12 home starts.
Under is 18-8-3 in Lewis’ last 29 on grass.
BOS are 2-6 in the last 8 meetings.
Under is 14-6 in the last 20 meetings.
The pick:
As dominant as I think Boston will be this season, I don’t think a win is in the cards for Saturday night. Not only do the Boston hitters not know much about Lewis, the Ranger hitters really have Lackey’s number after facing him for so many years when he pitched for their division rival Los Angeles Angels.
Josh Hamilton (.435, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 23 AB versus Lackey), Ian Kinsler (.429, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 21 AB) and Michael Young (.360, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 84 AB) will keep Lackey up at night before his start and should lead Texas to victory on Saturday.
Red Sox vs Rangers prediction: Rangers 7, Red Sox 4
