The Texas Rangers went on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays, owners of the best regular-season record in the American League, and stunned the Rays by taking both games in convincing fashion, by a combined 11-1 score.

They went back home to Texas needing to win only one game to advance to the ALCS. They held a 2-1 lead going into the eighth inning with one of the best bullpens in baseball.

The Rangers allowed five runs in the final two innings and lost, 6-3, and the very next day they fell behind 5-0 on their way to a 5-2 loss in Game 4. And just like that the series is tied and headed back to Tropicana Field for a deciding Game 5.

There is a reason the Texas Rangers have never won a playoff series. After a series of events like that maybe it was just not meant to be for Texas to ever win a playoff series. Tuesday night at 8 p.m. EST in Tampa Bay is easily the best chance for Texas ever to get that elusive series-clinching win.

The Rangers have been led by Elvis Andrus (.316 batting average and two stolen bases) and Nelson Cruz (.313 with three home runs). The Rays have not had nearly as much firepower, but Ben Zobrist (.313) and Evan Longoria (.250) have stepped up in the last two games.

Rangers vs. Rays Game 5 Pitching Matchup
Cliff Lee (LHP, 12-0, 3.18 ERA) vs. David Price (LHP, 19-6, 2.72 ERA)
Both teams send out their Game 1 starters and staff aces. Lee led the Rangers to a 5-1 win in Game 1, striking out 10 and not walking a batter. He is a remarkable 5-0 with a 1.52 ERA in six postseason starts. Price was tagged for four earned runs and nine hits in Game 1, but he also had no walks and struck out eight in six-plus innings of work. He gets another shot at Lee, but he knows more than anyone he will have to be better.

Rangers vs. Rays Odds
The Rays are slight favorites at -115 with the Rangers listed at +105. No game in this series has been decided by one run and the Rays can be had on the runline (-1.5) at +190. The total is set at 6.5 MLB Playoff odds are courtesy of BetUS.

Rangers vs. Rays Betting Trends
Rangers are 5-0 in their last five road games
Rangers are 5-0 in their last five games vs. a left-handed starter
Rays are 1-5 in their last six games as a home favorite
Rays are 0-5 in their last five games vs. a left-handed starter
‘Over’ is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings between the Rangers and Rays
Rangers are 5-13 in their last 18 meetings in Tampa Bay
Rangers are 2-6 in the last eight meetings

Rangers vs. Rays MLB Picks and Baseball Predictions
All the trends point to Texas in this one and there should be no bigger factor than Lee. However, he is one of the few players on the Rangers roster who has been a part of a game of this magnitude. Nearly the entire Tampa Bay roster has been in big-time postseason games and had success. In this game Tampa Bay’s team experience trumps Lee’s experience. Take the Rays to win Game 5 and the series.