Rangers 2012 MLB Season Odds
(The Spread) – The Rangers have owned the AL West for the past two seasons but after the Angels reloaded this offseason, Texas will face a stiff challenge to repeat.
According to oddsmakers the Rangers are 8/1 to win the 2012 World Series and 4/1 to win the American League Pennant this season. They’re also 1/1 to win the American League West Division and have an over/under of 92 for total number of wins for the regular season.
The Rangers lost ace C.J. Wilson this past winter but replaced him with an intriguing wild card in Japanse pitcher Yu Darvish. Texas also added Joe Nathan to its bullpen and signed 1B/oF Brad Hawpe as well. Conor Jackson was signed to a minor league deal and Brandon Snyder was acquired from Baltimore.
View Latest 2012 World Series Odds
Along with Wilson, the Rangers also lost catcher Taylor Teagarden (Orioles), catcher Matt Treanor, left-hander Darren Oliver, outfielder Endy Chavez and infielder Andres Blanco. The biggest blow was obviously Wilson, who signed with division rival Los Angeles.
OUTLOOK: The loss of Wilson hurts but don’t forget he’s been overmatched in the postseason the last two years. The addition of Darvish will help an already solid starting rotation that also features Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and the hard-throwing Neftali Feliz (who comes over from the bullpen). The strength of the Rangers will once again be their lineup, which has power (Josh Hamilton, Ian Kinser, Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli), as well as speed (Kinsler and Elvis Andrus) and average (Hamilton, Michael Young and Beltre). Texas still has one of the top offenses in the league, if not the best in all of baseball. Thus, they’re well equipped go toe-to-toe with the Angels (who signed Albert Pujols in addition to Wilson) all season. It’s going to be a fun battle in the AL West this year.
2012 Texas Rangers MLB Season Odds
World Series Odds: 8/1
American League Pennant Odds: 4/1
American League West Division Odds: 1/1
Regular Season Win Total O/U: 92
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