Posted on
5/8/2008 5:13:23 PM
Online Baseball Betting – Rangers Look to Complete Sweep of Mariners
By Eric Williams
Talk about polar opposites!
The Seattle Mariners, (14-21, 14-18-2 O/U) and Texas Rangers, (15-20, 18-14-3 O/U) currently define that word as each ballclub is headed in opposite directions at the moment.
Picked to be a contender for the American League Pennant and AL West division title, the Mariners have struggled all season long and have dropped eight of their last ten games in the BetUS Sportsbook, including back-to-back losses to the Texas Rangers, winners of seven of their last ten games overall, including a convincing 2-0 win over the Mariners and staff ace Erik Bedard on Wednesday.
Tonight, the Mariners will try to stop the bleeding by sending gifted young right-hander Felix Hernandez (1-0, 3.04) to the mound hoping for a better outing than the one he delivered in his last start as he allowed six runs on 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings as the Mariners lost to the New York Yankees 6-1 on Saturday.
Hernandez did however, shut the Rangers down in his first start of the regular season, limiting them to one unearned run on five hits in seven innings though Seattle lost 5-4.
The Rangers will counter with their own young hurler in Kason Gabbard, (1-0, 2.18 ERA) who will make his first start since coming off the disabled almost three weeks ago with back troubles.
Prior to his injury, Gabbard looked like the Rangers’ best pitcher, allowing just five earned runs in 20 2/3 innings.
Gabbard made one rehab start at Double-A Frisco, allowing one run and one hit in four innings.
"That sharp pain isn't there anymore," Gabbard told the Rangers' official Web site. "There's still a little stiffness in the morning when I wake up, but when I come to the ballpark and do all my work, it loosens up."
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my MLB Wagering Free Picks:
The Rangers are 4-1 in Gabbard’s last five starts vs. a team with a losing record.
The Rangers are 7-2 in Gabbard’s last nine starts on grass.
The Mariners are 5-1 in Hernandez’s last six home starts vs. a team with a losing record.
The Mariners are 8-2 in Hernandez’s last ten starts vs. a team with a losing record.
The Over is 6-0 in Gabbard’s last six starts as a road underdog.
The Under is 4-0 in Hernandez’s last four starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
The Under is 5-1 in Hernandez’s last six starts vs. Rangers.
The Under is 7-3-1 in the last eleven meetings.
Analysis: I’ll keep this pick short and sweet by saying that there aren’t many pitchers in all of baseball that are as talented as Seattle’s Hernandez who will lead his team to victory tonight if he can get just a few runs of support.
MLB Free Picks: Seattle 5 Texas 3
10:10 PM EST MLB Lines
Texas Rangers
Kason Gabbard - L +1½ -145
Seattle Mariners
Felix Hernandez - R -1½ +125
Over 8½ -105
Under 8½ -115
American League
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