Rays vs. Rangers Game 3 MLB Playoffs 2010 Picks, Predictions & Odds: It's do or die time for the Tampa Bay Rays today (5:07 pm ET) when they face the Texas Rangers in Game-3 of the American League Divisional Series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. If they don't get a win today, there will be no tomorrow for the American League's best team – or through the regular season they were. The Rays will send to the mound Matt Garza, who they hope will provide the much needed stopping power. Garza went 15-10 during the season and finished with a 3.91 ERA. Stopping the losing streak through the first two games. The Rangers will look to end the series with a win tonight on the arm of Colby Lewis. The Rangers right-hander ended the regular season with a 12-13 record and a 3.72 ERA.
MLB odds-makers at SBGglobal.com have lined the Rangers as 127-moneyline favorites in their home ball park with a 9-run total. Rays backers are getting +117 moneyline odds as the underdog. Run line prices on the Rays (+1 1/2) are -180 while the Rangers (-1 1/2) are getting +160.
Garza was the MVP of the ALCS in 2008, when he went 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in the Rays' victory over the Red Sox. He is remarkably consistent, registering ERAs of 3.69, 3.70, 3.95 and 3.91 in the past four seasons.
Lewis will be pitching the first game at the Ballpark in Arlington, where he was 6-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 13 starts. He didn't pitch vs. the Rays this season and was 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA in his last five starts, finishing the season with 196 strikeouts.
C.J. Wilson threw a two-hit shutout over 6 2/3 innings to lead Texas to a 6-0 win over Tampa Bay on Thursday and a 2-0 lead in the ALDS. The Rangers won Game 2 as +125 underdogs, while the teams played UNDER the posted 8 1/2 total set by sportsbooks.
Michael Young led the Rangers at the plate with a three-run blast, while Wilson fanned seven batters in the victory. James Shields suffered the loss on the mound for the Rays, giving up four hits and four runs over his 4 1/3 innings.
MLB Picks & Predictions: Forget about betting the sides in this game, but take the OVER. Each teams top pitchers are on the shelf for this game so look for offense to show up.
