MLB Betting – World Series Game 2 Rangers vs Cardinals Preview & Pick
After the Chris Carpenter silenced the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the World Series, they’ll try to answer back with a playoff ace of their own tonight.
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Date: Thursday, October 20, 2011
Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Broadcast: FOX
Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com
Money Line: Rangers +140, Cardinals -160
Over/Under: 8
Texas Rangers (trail series 0-1)
Colby Lewis (1-1, 3.86)
Colby Lewis may not have Chris Carpenter’s star status but he’s been just as reliable in postseason play over the last two seasons, going 4-1 with a 2.37 ERA. Tonight’s outing will mark Lewis’ third straight road start in the 2011 playoffs. He beat Tampa in his first but got rocked by Detroit for four runs and two homers in 5.2 innings his last time out.
Lewis was a better road pitcher than home pitcher this season, going 9-5 with a 3.43 ERA away from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. However, he had trouble with homers wherever he pitched. He’ll have to be especially careful against the switch-hitting Lance Berkman. The Big Puma broke open Game 1 with a two-run double – and that was swinging from the right side against lefty C.J. Wilson. Berkman is much more powerful and a better all-around hitter from the left side, where he’ll be against the righty Lewis tonight.
St. Louis Cardinals (lead series 1-0)
Jaime Garcia (0-2, 5.74)
The St. Louis Cardinals are guaranteed at least a split at home to start the series but they’d like to be up 2-0 leading into three straight games in Arlington. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
After another sparkling effort from Carpenter, they’ll turn to lefty Jaime Garcia tonight.
Garcia has run hot and cold in the playoffs but came through with a gutsy effort last week against the Brewers, allowing one run, though he lasted just 4.2 innings. For Garcia, it’s fairly easy to predict his good outings, as they almost always come at home. He was 9-4 with a 2.55 ERA at home this season and is 16-9 with a 2.37 ERA all-time there.
The pick:
I could see tonight’s game being fairly low scoring again. Lewis has a strong playoff track record and Garcia locks it down at home. But Texas is due for an offensive outburst and batted a major-league best .282 as a team against lefthanded pitching this regular season. It should do a bit of damage against the lefty Garcia.
Look for Rangers righty bats like streaking Mike Napoli, Michael Young and – who else? – Nelson Cruz to lead Texas to victory.
Rangers vs Cardinals prediction: Rangers 4, Cardinals 3
Money Line: Rangers +140
Over/Under: UNDER 8
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