Sunday, August 16, 2015

Globe Life Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Drew Smyly (0-1) vs. Yovani Gallardo (8-9)

The Tampa Bay Rays visit Globe Life Park on Sunday to play the Texas Rangers. The probable starters are Drew Smyly for the Rays and Yovani Gallardo for the Rangers. The opening line for this matchup has Tampa Bay at +107 and Texas at -117. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Rays, with a 63-52 run line record, cover the spread 55% of the time. They also have a 50-56 over/under record. The Rangers have a 52-56 over/under record and a 68-46 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 60% of the time.

The Rays come into this game with a 58-57 record, and they are 28-28 away from home. Drew Smyly has a 0-1 record on the season, an earned run average of 2.70 and a 0.78 WHIP. He's pitched 16.2 innings thus far while surrendering 10 hits over that time and when he starts, the Rays are 2-1. The Rays are also 1-2 against the over/under in his starts. He is getting 5 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has given up 331 hits on the season and have an earned run average of 3.75. Teams are hitting .231 against the bullpen while being struck out 355 times and walking 142 times this season. As a team, Tampa Bay has allowed 7.9 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.32 batters per nine. They are 9th in the league in team earned run average at 3.59.

As a team, Tampa Bay is batting .245, good for 25th in the league while putting together a .247 average away from home. The Rays on-base percentage sits at .309, which puts them at 20th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .392. They rank 26th in baseball with 8.16 hits per game and Evan Longoria leads the team with 114.

With a 57-57 overall record, Texas will come into this game 24-29 at home. Yovani Gallardo has a record of 8-9 while sporting an earned run average of 3.33 on the year with a 1.31 WHIP. He's pitched 138 innings thus far while surrendering 128 hits over that time in which the Rangers are 12-12. The Rangers are also 8-15 against the over/under in his starts. He is getting 3.3 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has given up 368 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 4.59. Teams are hitting .256 against the Rangers bullpen while being struck out 322 times and walking 153 times this season. As a team, Texas has allowed 9.28 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.62 batters per nine. They are 27th in the league in team earned run average at 4.50.

As a team, they are batting .254, good for 12th in the league while putting together a .263 average 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 141.

In terms of team defense, the Rays have a fielding percentage of .985 with 64 total errors, 1,011 assists and 3,082 put outs. For the home team, they hold a .980 team fielding percentage while committing 87 errors, accumulating 1165 assists and compiling 3,053 put outs.

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

The Tampa Bay Rays are 50-56 against the over/under so far this season

The Tampa Bay Rays are 63-52 against the run line so far this season

Texas Rangers Betting Trends

The Texas Rangers are 52-56 against the over/under so far this season

The Texas Rangers are 68-46 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Tampa Bay Rays

08/15/15 P Drew Smyly Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/6); expected to be activated and start Sunday vs. Texas Rangers
08/01/15 RF Steven Souza Hand Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/2)
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

08/14/15 CF Leonys Martin Hand out indefinitely
08/13/15 1B Kyle Blanks Achilles Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/17)
08/11/15 P Cole Hamels Groin "?" next start Monday vs Seattle Mariners
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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