Los Angeles Angels (10-6) AT Texas Rangers (11-5)
April 19, 2011 at 8:05 PM EST
Opening Moneyline: TEX -170, LAA +150
Current Moneyline: TEX -183, LAA +173
Opening Total: 9.5
Current Total: 9
SP: LAA- M. Palmer, TEX- C. Lewis
The Rangers still have yet to lose a home game and could improve to 8-0 at home this season with a win over the visiting Angels tonight. When the Rangers reached their first World Series in 2010, their longest win streak at home was 7 games. They opened the series against the Angels with a 7-1 victory on Monday. Starting pitcher CJ Wilson struck out nine batters in 7 and Adrian Beltre homered for the second straight game and the Angels had a 5 game win streak snapped. The Angels hit well, but choked with runners in scoring position, hitting .125 (1 of 8).
Angels manager Mike Scioscia took a diplomatic approach to the defeat. “Those guys beat us today,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “We didn’t execute some things on the mound and at the plate, but we’re not that far off.”
Adrian Beltre tied Mark Teixiera for the major league lead with 4 games with at least 3 RBIs. He is 14 of 36 with 12 RBIS over the last 9 games, which constitutes a 9 game hitting streak.
Ian Kinsler rebounded from an 0 for 18 streak to record two extra base hits and the #2 batter in the lineup Elvis Andrus had 3 hits as well after hitting a 4 for 39 stretch.
The Angels have dropped 14 of their last 20 in Texas and Angels outfielder Torii Hunter recognizes the challenge posed by Texas: “They know us, we know them. We’ve got to keep pounding. We know it’s going to be a grind.”
Neither pitcher in this matchup is having a particularly good season. Palmer is at 7.71 and Lewis is at 5.25. Palmer’s WHIP is particularly bad at 2.36, and he has recorded only 2 strikeouts so far. He gave up 5 runs over 4 2/3rds innings of play in a 14 inning win over Toronto. He started in place of the injured Scott Kazmir. In his lone start against Texas, however, he only gave up 1 hit in 5 innings as the Angels won 5-0.
Lewis has only started one game, a game in which he gave up 5 runs over 6 innings, in a loss to the Orioles. He went on paternity leave and is making his return to the lineup today. In his 2 starts against the Angels he is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA.
Some betting trends:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of the Angels’ last 8 games and the Angels are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 on the road and the Angels are 5-1 SU in their last 6 on the road. The Angels are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games against the Rangers and they are 3-8 SU in their last 11 road matchups against the Texas Rangers.
Texas is 2-4 SU In their last 6 games and they are 11-5 SU in their last 16. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 5 games and they are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home. Texas is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games against the Angels and the Rangers are 8-3 SU in their last 11 games at home against the Angels.
Today’s game should be interesting. Both pitchers are struggling but could find their groove against a team they have pitched well against in the past.
