MLB: Monday Plays <HR style="COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Rangers @ Devil Rays
Play: Rangers -134
Comment:
Pros:
A lot of intangibles taking part in this game, as both teams are set up for a letdown in this spot. First the potential letdown working in the Rangers favor. The Devil Rays have always raised their level of play when playing both the Yankees and Red Sox. Last week, they took their injured ball club into New York, and almost took the series from them. They followed that up with a near sweep against the Red Sox. With that said, the Devil Rays have also consistently laid an egg following a series against either the Red Sox or Yankees. After playing consecutive series against these teams, it’s hard for me to think this trend is going to change.
The Devil Rays have a depleted lineup that is getting a boost from a different hitter every game. However, in the long run, the Devil Rays lineup lacks the quality hitters that could consistently hang with the better lineups in the league such as the Rangers. Although Loe was beaten up pretty bad in his last start against the Devil Rays a couple of weeks ago, the Rangers later found out that he had a bad chest cold that effected his pitching that day. After being sent home following that game, Loe returned to form with a pretty solid outing against the A’s in his last start. Although some young pitchers have the tendency to struggle on road games, Loe is quite the opposite. In fact, his career road ERA is half as low as his home ERA, as he comes into today’s start with an impressive 2.52 career road ERA. Expect this to be a good spot for Loe to avenge his poor outing a couple of weeks ago against the Devil Rays, as he now faces a more injured lineup that is prone to a letdown.
McClung shares many similarities as Cabrera. He has nasty stuff and has the ability to be dominant. However, those dominant starts are few and far between. He is a much better pitcher to bet on when being a huge underdog, as 24 basis points is just not worth the risk when taking the most inconsistent pitcher in baseball. McClung really struggled a couple of weeks ago when facing the same Rangers lineup. In fact, he was only able to pitch two and a third innings before getting taken out for allowing 9 runs and 8 hits. He is also coming off a start where he allowed 7 walks, and is allowing a walk an innings so far this year. This is the last thing you want when facing a home run hitting lineup in a hitter’s park, as they could really make a pitcher pay for their walks. He is also backed by a very fatigued bullpen that has really been struggling lately. They have not found a reliable closer, and are very prone to blowing any potential lead, as last series showed. The Rangers lineup is one of the streakiest in baseball, and they appear to be heating up right now. They have scored at least six runs in 8 of their last 10 games, and have been getting support from various players.
Cons:
The Devil Rays might be the most underrated home team in baseball, and has consistently been the most undervalued home team in baseball as well. They make for a much better fade when playing away from home. The Rangers are also prone to a letdown in this game as well. Most teams coming off a Sunday Nigh upset have been prone to a huge letdown the following game. There are several reasons why I don’t think this trend is a mere anomaly. Loe and the Rangers bullpen is not the ideal combination you want when betting on a road favorite. As mentioned before, McClung is a hit or miss pitcher. This means that the quality starts are not correlated to the quality of the lineup he faces, rather whether he has his control that particular game. This somewhat minimizes the advantages of betting on a quality lineup.
Conclusion:
Both teams are prone to a letdown game today. In my opinion, it would be the younger, injured and inferior team. I like the Rangers in this spot.
<!-- / message -->
Play: Rangers -134
Comment:
Pros:
A lot of intangibles taking part in this game, as both teams are set up for a letdown in this spot. First the potential letdown working in the Rangers favor. The Devil Rays have always raised their level of play when playing both the Yankees and Red Sox. Last week, they took their injured ball club into New York, and almost took the series from them. They followed that up with a near sweep against the Red Sox. With that said, the Devil Rays have also consistently laid an egg following a series against either the Red Sox or Yankees. After playing consecutive series against these teams, it’s hard for me to think this trend is going to change.
The Devil Rays have a depleted lineup that is getting a boost from a different hitter every game. However, in the long run, the Devil Rays lineup lacks the quality hitters that could consistently hang with the better lineups in the league such as the Rangers. Although Loe was beaten up pretty bad in his last start against the Devil Rays a couple of weeks ago, the Rangers later found out that he had a bad chest cold that effected his pitching that day. After being sent home following that game, Loe returned to form with a pretty solid outing against the A’s in his last start. Although some young pitchers have the tendency to struggle on road games, Loe is quite the opposite. In fact, his career road ERA is half as low as his home ERA, as he comes into today’s start with an impressive 2.52 career road ERA. Expect this to be a good spot for Loe to avenge his poor outing a couple of weeks ago against the Devil Rays, as he now faces a more injured lineup that is prone to a letdown.
McClung shares many similarities as Cabrera. He has nasty stuff and has the ability to be dominant. However, those dominant starts are few and far between. He is a much better pitcher to bet on when being a huge underdog, as 24 basis points is just not worth the risk when taking the most inconsistent pitcher in baseball. McClung really struggled a couple of weeks ago when facing the same Rangers lineup. In fact, he was only able to pitch two and a third innings before getting taken out for allowing 9 runs and 8 hits. He is also coming off a start where he allowed 7 walks, and is allowing a walk an innings so far this year. This is the last thing you want when facing a home run hitting lineup in a hitter’s park, as they could really make a pitcher pay for their walks. He is also backed by a very fatigued bullpen that has really been struggling lately. They have not found a reliable closer, and are very prone to blowing any potential lead, as last series showed. The Rangers lineup is one of the streakiest in baseball, and they appear to be heating up right now. They have scored at least six runs in 8 of their last 10 games, and have been getting support from various players.
Cons:
The Devil Rays might be the most underrated home team in baseball, and has consistently been the most undervalued home team in baseball as well. They make for a much better fade when playing away from home. The Rangers are also prone to a letdown in this game as well. Most teams coming off a Sunday Nigh upset have been prone to a huge letdown the following game. There are several reasons why I don’t think this trend is a mere anomaly. Loe and the Rangers bullpen is not the ideal combination you want when betting on a road favorite. As mentioned before, McClung is a hit or miss pitcher. This means that the quality starts are not correlated to the quality of the lineup he faces, rather whether he has his control that particular game. This somewhat minimizes the advantages of betting on a quality lineup.
Conclusion:
Both teams are prone to a letdown game today. In my opinion, it would be the younger, injured and inferior team. I like the Rangers in this spot.
<!-- / message -->