Posted on 3/31/2008 5:53:34 PM

MLB Sportsbook Baseball Betting - Texas at Seattle

By Eric Williams

While the Texas Rangers have hired former star and Hall of Fame legend Nolan Ryan to take over as team president and get the franchise headed back to respectability, the pitching-thin Rangers probably would have been better off had they hired him to be their staff ace.

While the Seattle Mariners went out and acquired one of the best pitchers in all of baseball in fireballing left-hander Erik Bedard, the Mariners will enter the 2008 season with another mediocre pitching staff that resembles many of their recent staffs, which have failed miserably.

Bedard, 29, went 13-5 with a career-best 3.16 ERA for the Orioles last season, striking out 221 in only 182 innings and Mariners manager John McLaren, says he is ready to go despite a mediocre spring.

"I'm happy with him," McLaren said. "He's ready. The last thing he said, I asked him if he's ready to get out of Arizona and he said, 'Yes, I am.'"

The addition of Bedard has the Mriners, who went 88-74 last season, thinking playoffs and nothing less.

"Anything less than the playoffs would be a disappointment for me, for sure, and I think the team feels the same way," McLaren told the Mariners' official Web site. "We feel like we're a good ballclub and we feel we can be an elite ballclub."

The Rangers, who ranked 24th in the majors last season with a 4.75 team ERA, will throw out their best pitcher, veteran Kevin Millwood who went an uninspiring 10-14 last season with a career-high 5.16 ERA.

"Nobody is going to put more pressure on myself than I can," Millwood told the Rangers' official Web site. "Obviously I need to do more than last year, give this team more innings and more quality starts. I feel like I put a lot of hard work to get ready for this season and I want to see it pay off."

As bad as Texas’ pitching situation is, their powerful offense will undoubtedly bail them out on plenty of occasions this season as they ranked seventh in the majors last season in runs scored with 816 and added offensive-minded outfielders Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley to a lineup that already includes infielders Michael Young and Hank Blalock, perennial MVP-caliber players.

"If we pitch and play defense, I'll take my chances with this team every night," manager Ron Washington said.

Here is a look at tonight’s Key Trends, followed by my MLB Betting Free Picks:

Key Rangers Trends

The Rangers are 7-2 in their last nine games vs. a left-handed starter.

The Rangers are 6-2 in their last eight games following an off day.

The Rangers are 6-13 in their last 19 overall.

Key Mariners Trends

The Mariners are 4-0 in their last four games as a home favorite.

The Mariners are 5-0 in their last five home games.

The Mariners are 5-0 in their last five games on grass.

Key Totals Trends

The Under is 4-0-1 in Rangers last five games as a road underdog.

The Over is 5-0 in Rangers last five games vs. a left-handed starter.

The Over is 4-0 in Rangers last four road games vs. a left-handed starter.

The Under is 4-0-1 in Mariners last five games as a home favorite.

The Under is 5-0-1 in Mariners last six home games.

The Under is 4-0-1 in Mariners last five games as a favorite.

Key Head-to-Head Trends

The Under is 5-0-1 in the last six meetings.

The Under is 6-2 in Millwoods last eight starts vs. Mariners.

The Rangers are 2-5 in the last seven meetings.

Analysis: The Mariners are the easy pick here MLB bettors as they have the better pitcher, a nearly equal batting order and are playing at home. Once Millwood leaves the game, the Rangers are toast.

MLB Free Picks: Mariners 5 Rangers 3

06:40 PM EST MLB Odds

Texas Rangers

Kevin Millwood - R +1½ -115

Seattle Mariners

Erik Bedard - L -1½ -105

Over 8 -115

Under 8 -105

American League

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