Rangers vs. Indians Pick
Will the Cleveland Indians get back on track tonight when they open a home series with the Texas Rangers at 7:10PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Indians are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -170 to win. The Rangers are listed with odds of +155 to prevail, while the over/under total for the game has been set at 9 runs. Cleveland earned a three-game sweep of the Rangers in Texas earlier this season.
MLB Quick Links: Scores & Matchups | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Betting Trends | ATS Stats
The pitching matchup today has Cole Hamels (2-0, 3.03 ERA) on the mound for Texas to face Carlos Carrasco (8-3, 2.99) of the Indians. Carrasco has been pitching well as of late, allowing just three earned runs over his last 17.2 innings of work. He has 89 strikeouts on the season with 22 walks and a 1.02 WHIP. Hamels is returning to the mound for the first time in two months due to an oblique injury. He has started five games this season, allowing 11 earned runs and 25 hits over 32.2 innings. He has 15 strikeouts with 12 walks and a 1.13 WHIP.
Cleveland is coming off being swept at home in surprising fashion by the Twins. The Indians amassed just two runs over the three games. The Indians are 39-35 overall and 15-20 at home. Cleveland is now averaging 4.66 runs per game while allowing 4.05 per contest. The Indians are being led by Edwin Encarnacion, who has 17 home runs with 40 RBI. Jose Ramirez is adding 24 doubles, 12 home runs and 35 RBI.
Texas is coming off a series win at New York against the Yankees. The Rangers have won four of their last six games. Texas is now 38-37 overall and 16-20 on the road. Texas is putting up 5 runs per game while allowing 4.61 per contest. Elvis Andrus is leading Texas with 18 doubles, 41 RBI and 18 stolen bases. Joey Gallo has a team-high 19 home runs with 39 RBI.
The Indians looked terrible this weekend and they fell out of first in the AL Central to the Twins. Minnesota talked a little trash afterwards, but that could give Cleveland a spark today. The Indians aren’t likely to lose four straight at home and they get to face Hamels, who could be rusty in his first start in two months. I think tonight is a gut-check game for Cleveland.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: CLEVELAND INDIANS -170