The Texas Rangers, holding down first place in the American League West Standings by 1 1/2-games over the second place Angels, are one game down to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays after losing the first of a four-game series at Rangers Park in Arlington on Monday. For game-2 (8:05 pm ET), the Rangers pin their hopes on left-hander Matt Harrison while the Blue Jays counter with right-hander Jesse Litsch.
Oddsmakers list the Rangers as -190 MLB Lines favorites on the BetUS.com moneyline with a OVER/UNDER betting total of 9-runs. Blue Jays backers are getting +160 moneyline odds as the game's underdog.
Harrison was credited with a loss to the Angels his last time out but still pitched a quality game allowing three earned runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out five. Harrison is 3-1 on the year with a 1.88 ERA after 28.2 innings of work. In that span, Harrison has only given up seven runs with six of them earned.
After three starts this season Litsch is 1-1 with one no-decision to go along with a respectable 3.63 ERA. In his last start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, Litsch pitched got the loss after pitching six frames, giving up four runs, all earned, on seven hits while striking out five. For his career, Litsch is 22-25 after 63 starts with a 4.08 ERA. Litsch is replacing Brett Cecil as today's starting pitcher, after Cecil was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas earlier this week.
Betting trends show the Blue Jays have enjoyed success over the Rangers going 8-2 in their last 10 games. However, this season the Blue Jays are 3-6 in their last nine games. The Rangers are 10-3 in their last 13 games at home while the total has gone OVER in four of the Rangers' last six games and in four of six games at home. The total has gone OVER in four of Toronto's last seven games and in four of the Blue Jays last six games on the road.
I'm convinced, my daily MLB Picks for today's game is OVER-9.
