The Texas Rangers (35-39) and Los Angeles Angels (40-33) will continue an American League West series Sunday night at Angel Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels
Texas has dropped four games in a row, including a 3-2 extra-innings loss to Los Angeles as +178 road underdogs Saturday, while going UNDER the betting total of 8.5. The Rangers have been led offensively by outfielder Shin-Soo Choo in this matchup, as he’s batting .478 with three home runs and six RBIs in his last six games versus the Halos. Texas is 2-9 on the road with a betting total of 8 to 8.5, with the OVER going 6-3-2 in that situation.
Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (7-3, 2.39 ERA) had his personal four-game winning streak snapped last time out, as he allowed seven runs (four earned) and eight hits in five innings of a 10-6 road defeat to the Oakland Athletics. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA in six road outings, with opposing hitters batting .266 against him. Darvish has compiled a 2.36 ERA during his five-start winning streak at this ballpark.
Los Angeles has won the first two games of this series, but it’s unclear if it’ll have first baseman Albert Pujols in the lineup, who has been bothered by lower back pain in recent days. The Angels definitely need him offensively, considering second baseman Howie Kendrick is hitless in 19 career at-bats versus Darvish. Los Angeles is 14-7 as home underdogs of +100 to +125 dating back to the start of the 2012 campaign, with the OVER going 12-8-1 in those 21 opportunities.
Angels starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker (4-1, 3.83 ERA) is coming off a 9-3 road victory over the Cleveland Indians—surrendering two runs and five hits over eight strong innings of work. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA in six home appearances (three starts), with opposing hitters batting .280 against him. Shoemaker will be facing the Rangers for the first time in his professional career.
Sports bettors will likely play the total, as the UNDER is 22-5 in the Rangers’ last 27 Sunday contests.
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