The Toronto Blue Jays are trying to avoid losing their fourth consecutive game they play host to the Texas Rangers at Rogers Centre. This AL showdown will begin at 4:07 p.m. ET and fans looking to watch it can tune in to Fox Sports Southwest.
Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Texas (+150) is entering this game as the underdog against Toronto (-160) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this afternoon game at 9.5 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). Runline odds sit at -145 for taking the Rangers +1.5 runs and +125 for the Blue Jays -1.5 runs.
The Rangers have gone only 10-17 SU this year and are 10-16 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline in this young season and 9.8 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are 14-11 SU and 14-10 ATS. They’ve gained 3.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 4.5 units ATS. Toronto has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Blue Jays games have an over/under record of 10-12-2 so far in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 12-13-1.
Bartolo Colon will get the start for the visiting Rangers. The right-handed Colon is 0-0 with a 2.59 ERA and 19 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Toronto this year (three starts).
The Blue Jays are planning to start lefty Jaime Garcia (2-1, 4.57 ERA), who has 23 punchouts and eight walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.43. Garcia is 1-0 with five strikeouts and a 5.06 ERA against Texas this year.
As a unit, Toronto’s pitching staff has allowed 4.2 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have an ERA of 5.26, a WHIP of 1.42 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.9. The bullpen has posted a solid ERA of just 2.20, a WHIP of 1.22 and a K/9 of 8.8.
Toronto’s offense is putting up 5.2 runs per outing, including 4.8 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over its last five. The teams hit .187/.258/.367 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Blue Jays offense has been led by left fielder Curtis Granderson and first baseman Justin Smoak. Granderson is slashing .316/.426/.561 with three home runs, 12 RBIs and 11 runs scored, and Smoak is batting .275 with three homers, 14 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Granderson seemed to take a step back when hitting at home last year. Over 224 plate appearances, he slashed .178/.290/.330 (compared to his overall season line of .212/.323/.450).
For the visiting squad, Texas pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starters own a 5.01 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 7.61 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.13, along with a K-per-9 of 8.36.
The Rangers offense has slashed .234/.309/.373 on its way to 3.7 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.5 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 4.6 per game over the teams last five contests (3-2 SU).
Texas offense has been led by first baseman Joey Gallo and shortstop Elvis Andrus, who’ve collectively swatted 10 home runs. Gallo is slashing .240/.315/.520 with eight home runs, 19 RBIs and 16 runs scored, while Andrus (.327/.426/.500) is up to two homers, five RBIs and seven runs scored.
Maintaining a slash line of .192/.276/.404 across 58 plate appearances, Gallo didn’t do especially well against lefty pitching on the road last season (his total season line was .209/.332/.536).
The Rangers have lost 3.4 units and are 1-5 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in four of those games, compared to two that’ve hit the under against lefties. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have netted 4.2 units and are 7-7 ATS when facing a righty starter. The overs cashed in five of those games, compared to eight that went under the total.
Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Rangers have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Blue Jays have hit 10 over their last 10.
- Texas has recorded 20.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.2 over its last five.
- The Blue Jays have lost five of their last six games SU.
