Indians vs. Rangers Prediction
After losing their opener on Monday, will the Rangers bounce back with an upset win over the Indians tonight at 8:05PM ET?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Rangers are +130 money line underdogs versus the visiting Indians, who have odds of -150 to win tonight’s game. With Carlos Carrasco set to take on Martin Perez in the pitching matchup, the over/under for tonight’s game has been dropped to 8.5 after opening at 9.5.
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In his final sharp of the spring, Carrasco allowed a whopping nine hits, four runs and one walk over four innings last Wednesday versus the Reds. He also struck out five, but he allowed three runs in the first inning, which included two on Jose Peraza’s home run to left field. The outing was par for the course for Carrasco, who owned a 10.80 ERA over six Cactus League starts this spring.
Perez spent some time pitching for the Venezuela team in the World Baseball Classic, then returned on March 24 to blank the Padres over five innings. The 26-year-old will need good defensive play behind him again this season after posting the lowest strikeout percentage (103 batters in 198 2/3 innings) of qualified starters a year ago.
Bet Tonight’s Indians vs. Rangers Game
OUR PICK: The Indians are 1-4 in Carrasco’s last five starts against the Rangers and 1-4 in their last five road games when facing a left-handed starter. The Rangers, meanwhile, are 11-3 in Perez’s last 14 home starts and 6-1 in his last seven outings when their opponent allows five runs or more in its previous game. The Rangers are a good bounce-back candidate getting plus odds tonight.
TUESDAY MLB FREE PICK: TEXAS RANGERS +130