The Texas Rangers are making a road trip to Cleveland to face the Indians at Progressive Field. SportsTime Ohio will be televising this AL showdown and the game gets underway at 6:10 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Indians Odds
Vegas is listing Cleveland (-180) as the favorite over Texas (+170). The total stands at eight runs and bettors can wager on the over for -115 and the under for -105. Runline odds sit at -130 for betting the Rangers +1.5 runs and +110 for the Indians -1.5.
The Indians are 14-12 SU and 9-16 ATS. They’ve lost 2.5 units for moneyline bettors and 8.0 units against the spread (ATS). Cleveland has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven. The Rangers have gone 11-18 SU this year and are 12-16 ATS. Overall, the teams lost 0.7 units for moneyline gamblers over the early part of the year and 7.8 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Indians games have an over/under record of 10-15 so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 14-13-1.
The southpaw Cole Hamels will get the nod for the visiting Rangers. Hamels is 1-4 with a 4.41 ERA and 39 strikeouts. He has yet to face Cleveland this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 0-0 record with an 8.71 ERA and five strikeouts.
The Indians are handing the ball to righty Trevor Bauer (2-2, 2.41 ERA), who has 35 punchouts and 13 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.10. Bauer only made one start against the Rangers in 2017 (1-0, 1.42 ERA and three strikeouts across six and 1-third innings).
As a unit, Cleveland’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game overall this season. The teams starters have an ERA of 3.30, a WHIP of 1.06 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.9. The bullpen has a 4.07 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 8.8 K/9.
The Cleveland hitters have produced 3.7 runs per contest, including 3.9 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over their last five. The teams hit .242/.306/.515 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Third baseman Jose Ramirez and left fielder Michael Brantley have led the Indians offense so far. Ramirez is hitting .260/.351/.510 with seven home runs, 14 RBIs and 12 runs scored, while Brantley’s line is .348/.361/.536 with 24 hits, 10 RBIs and five runs.
Ramirez saw a slight drop-off in production against left-handed pitchers at home in 2017. In 103 such plate appearances, he slashed .295/.340/.442 (his overall season line was .318/.374/.583).
For the visiting squad, Texas pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.06 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.29 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.15, along with a WHIP of 1.48.
The Rangers offense has slashed .234/.307/.382 on its way to 3.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.3 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 4.2 per game over the teams last five outings (3-2 SU).
First baseman Joey Gallo and third baseman Adrian Beltre have led Texas offense. Gallo is slashing .224/.308/.486 with eight home runs, 19 RBIs and 17 runs scored, while Beltre is hitting .310/.366/.437 with one homers, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .312/.383/.532, Beltre appeared to take a step back when hitting righties on the road in 2017, maintaining a slash line of .255/.307/.458 across 166 such plate appearances.
The Rangers have gained 1.1 units and are 10-11 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in nine of those games, compared to 11 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Indians have netted 2.4 units and are 2-5 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in two of those games, compared to five that went under the total.
Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Indians Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The Indians have lost three of their last four games SU.
- Texas has posted 19.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.2 over its last five.
- The Rangers have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
