Friday, August 14, 2015

Globe Life Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Nathan Karns (7-5) vs. Martin Perez (1-2)

The Tampa Bay Rays visit Globe Life Park on Friday to play the Texas Rangers. The probable starters are Nathan Karns for the Rays and Martin Perez for the Rangers. The opening line for this matchup has Tampa Bay at +120 and Texas at -130. The over/under was set at 9. The Rays, with a 63-51 run line record, cover the spread 55% of the time. They also have a 50-55 over/under record. The Rangers have a 52-55 over/under record and a 67-46 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 59% of the time.

The Rays show up with a 58-56 record, including 28-27 on the road. Nathan Karns has an earned run average of 3.52 and is 7-5 so far on the season while having a 1.23 WHIP. He's pitched 125.1 innings thus far while surrendering 110 hits over that time and when he starts, the Rays are 11-11. Against the over/under, the Rays are 11-10 in his starts. His teammates are averaging 3.4 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has given up 327 hits on the season and have an earned run average of 3.71. Teams are hitting .230 against the bullpen while being struck out 352 times and walking 142 times this season. As a team, Tampa Bay has allowed 7.91 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.33 batters per nine. They are 8th in the league in team earned run average at 3.58.

Tampa Bay ranks 25th in the league in team batting average at .244 while hitting .246 on the road. The Rays on-base percentage sits at .308, which puts them at 20th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .392. They rank 26th in baseball with 8.12 hits per game and Evan Longoria leads the team with 114.

Texas is 23-29 at home while holding a 56-57 overall record on the season. Martin Perez is starting this game 1-2 for the season with an earned run average of 5.81 and a WHIP of 1.44. He's pitched 26.1 innings thus far while surrendering 31 hits over that time in which the Rangers are 3-2. Against the over/under, the Rangers are 3-2 when he starts. His teammates score an average of 6 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has given up 364 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 4.62. Teams are hitting .256 against the Rangers bullpen while being struck out 319 times and walking 153 times this season. As a team, Texas has allowed 9.27 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.67 batters per nine. They are 27th in the league in team earned run average at 4.52.

They rank 10th in the league in team batting average with a .254 average while hitting .264 at home. The Rangers on-base percentage sits at .318, which puts them at 13th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .406. They rank 10th in baseball with 8.72 hits per game and Prince Fielder leads the team with 139.

In terms of team defense, the Rays have a fielding percentage of .985 with 63 total errors, 1,000 assists and 3,058 put outs. For the home team, they hold a .980 team fielding percentage while committing 86 errors, accumulating 1136 assists and compiling 2,999 put outs.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 50-55 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 63-51 against the run line so far this season

Texas Rangers Betting Trends

The Texas Rangers are 52-55 against the over/under so far this season

The Texas Rangers are 67-46 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Tampa Bay Rays

08/13/15 CF Desmond Jennings Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/26); expected to be activated Friday vs. Texas Rangers
08/01/15 RF Steven Souza Hand Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/2)
05/10/15 P Drew Smyly Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/6)
05/09/15 P Alex Cobb Forearm Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27), out for season
04/29/15 P Kirby Yates Pectoral Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/29)
04/18/15 P Jeff Beliveau Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/22), out for season

Texas Rangers

08/13/15 1B Kyle Blanks Achilles Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/17)
08/13/15 RF Josh Hamilton Knee "?" Friday vs. Tampa Bay Rays
08/11/15 P Cole Hamels Groin "?" next start
08/02/15 P Tanner Scheppers Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/2)
08/01/15 C Robinson Chirinos Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/31)
07/18/15 C Carlos Corporan Thumb Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/13)
05/29/15 P Nick Tepesch Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/7)
05/29/15 P Derek Holland Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/11)
04/06/15 P Lisalverto Bonilla Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/31)
04/06/15 P Yu Darvish Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/6), out for season
04/04/15 RF Antoan Richardson Back Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/2)
04/04/15 2B Jurickson Profar Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (2/24), out for season

Tony's Pick: Take the Rangers

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