MLB Predictions: Blue Jays vs Rangers Lines
The Toronto Blue Jays will make the trip out to Arlington for a date with the Texas Rangers on Friday night in the opener of a three-game set. Both teams don’t like the form they are currently in, and both would like to use this series as a springboard to a turnaround in the near future.
Toronto Blue Jays (21-21) at Texas Rangers (20-21)
Date: Friday, May 16, 2014
Time: 7:07 PM ET
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
City: Arlington, Texas
O/U Odds: 8.5
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Money Line: Texas -159, Toronto +149
Pitching Matchup: RH Drew Hutchison (1-3, 4.37 ERA) at RH Yu Darvish (3-1, 2.33 ERA)
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Yu Darvish gets the nod for the Rangers in this one. He got a late start to the year after a DL-stint related to a back injury, but he’s been rolling along just fine since. On the year, he has a 2.33 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, limiting opposing hitters to a .218 batting average.
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His most recent start was an absolute gem, nearly no-hitting another American League East opponent in the Boston Red Sox. Darvish struck out 12 over 8 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and walking two. He picked up his third win of the season in that outing.
Darvish has faced the Blue Jays five times in his career, compiling a 2-1 record in those contests. Darvish posted a 2.73 ERA against the Blue Jays with a 1.03 WHIP while limiting Toronto to a .193 batting average.
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Drew Hutchison counters for the Blue Jays. He’s quietly been effective for the team, though his last three starts have been forgettable. Hutchison is in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, and the ball club is surely happy with his progress.
Hutchison’s last start wasn’t worth writing home about. He lasted only 4 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels, allowing three runs on three hits and walking four. Prior to that he gave up five runs in Philadelphia and four in Kansas City. His ERA sat at 3.46 prior to this rough patch.
The Blue Jays’ bats may be hot of late, but Darvish is just pitching at a whole other level right now. He’s been able to cool those bats in the past, and that could be the case again in this one. Those couple extra days of rest will surely work wonders for him as he looks to navigate the Jays’ lineup.
With that said, Hutchison’s a pretty good starter himself, so it shouldn’t be surprising to see him have some success against a Ranger batting order that has run hot and cold. With Darvish controlling things in his half, this one should stay comfortably under the total.
The Rangers are 9-1 in Darvish’s last 10 starts, while the Blue Jays are 2-5 in Hutchison’s last seven starts.
The under is 12-3-1 in Darvish’s last 16 starts vs. American League East opponents, while the under is 5-1 in Hutchison’s last six road starts.
The play: Texas -159, Under 8.5
