The Texas Rangers (30-26) have played hot and cold, but in the overall scheme of things, have held their own after two months of play and lead the overly competitive American League West where top to bottom are only separated by 3 1/2-games in the standings. Starting Friday, the Rangers continue their seven game road trip to Cleveland's Progressive Field to play a four game series with the Cleveland Indians who at 33-20, lead the AL Central and have the best record in the American League.
Series MLB Odds prices for this four-game series list the Indians as favorites coming off -135 odds while the Rangers are getting +105. This is a risky wager if you like Cleveland because they must win three games.
Picking the Rangers to win this series at +105 is a – Best Value – wager.
For Thursday's opener, the Indians will pin their hopes on a right-hander, Carlos Carrasco starting the game while Texas counters with their own right-hander Dave Bush. Cleveland's listed as -120 favorites on the offshore money-line with a combined game total of 9-runs. Rangers’ backers are getting +110 odds as underdogs.
In his last start on Saturday, Cleveland's Carrasco kept the Tampa Bay Rays confused, giving up only two earned runs on seven hits while walking none and striking out four through six innings. It will be interesting to see how he does against the potent Texas offense.
Bush is getting his third start this season but has appeared in nine games overall, mostly in relief. Bush is 0-1 with a 4.43 ERA through 20 1/3 innings pitched. For his career, mostly at Milwaukee, Bush is 56-59 with a lifetime 4.66 ERA. This is Bush's first season with the Rangers.
My MLB Odds side pick for tonight’s game is Cleveland (-120) with Carrasco starting. I also look for the game total of 9-runs to go OVER. It seems the Indians have broken out of their scoring slump as their 19 runs scored in their last 18 innings indicate.
