Friday, September 25, 2015

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Yovani Gallardo (12-11) vs. Scott Kazmir (7-10)

The Texas Rangers visit Minute Maid Park on Friday to play the Houston Astros. The probable starters are Yovani Gallardo for the Rangers and Scott Kazmir for the Astros. The opening line for this matchup has Texas at +130 and Houston at -140. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Rangers, with a 91-60 run line record, cover the spread 60% of the time. They also have a 66-76 over/under record. The Astros are 80-73 against the run line and have a 69-76 over/under record. They cover the spread 52% of the time.

The Rangers show up with a 82-69 record, including 43-34 on the road. Yovani Gallardo has an earned run average of 3.41 and is 12-11 so far on the season while having a 1.38 WHIP. In his starts, the Rangers are 17-14 over his 174.1 innings pitched this season while giving up 176 hits during those innings. Against the over/under, the Rangers are 9-21 in his starts. He is getting 3.5 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.18 and they have given up 442 base hits on the year. The bullpen has struck out 428 and walked 189 batters this season while opposing teams hit .244 against them. Texas has a team average of 9.1 hits allowed per game and are averaging 6.78 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 4.27, they are 24th in the league.

As a team, Texas is batting .256, good for 11th in the league while putting together a .239 average away from home. The Rangers hold a .411 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .324 which is good for 10th in baseball. With 172 hits, Prince Fielder leads the team while his team ranks 9th in hits per game with 8.72.

Houston is 51-27 at home while holding a 80-73 overall record on the season. Scott Kazmir is starting this game 7-10 for the season with an earned run average of 2.73 and a WHIP of 1.15. In his starts, the Astros are 12-17 and he has allowed 145 hits over 175 innings pitched this season. Against the over/under, the Astros are 12-15 when he starts. He is getting 3.6 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.25 and they have given up 343 base hits on the year. The Astros bullpen has struck out 430 batters and walked 129 this season while opposing teams have hit .214 against them. Houston has a team average of 8.1 hits per game and are averaging 7.92 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.54, they are 6th in the league.

As a team, they are batting .246, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .251 average at home. The Astros hold a .427 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .312 which is good for 20th in baseball. With 188 hits, Jose Altuve leads the team while his team ranks 29th in hits per game with 8.26.

Texas has a team fielding percentage of .981 after having committed 110 errors with 1,564 assists and 4,037 put outs for the season. Over the course of this season, the Astros have accumulated 73 errors while having 1,540 assists and 4,086 put outs leading to a .987 fielding percentage.

Texas Rangers Betting Trends

The Texas Rangers are 66-76 against the over/under so far this season

The Texas Rangers are 91-60 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 69-76 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 80-73 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Texas Rangers

09/02/15 P Alex Claudio Groin Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (9/1)
08/13/15 1B Kyle Blanks Achilles Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/17)
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)
05/29/15 P Nick Tepesch Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/7)
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

Houston Astros

09/23/15 CF Carlos Gomez Side "?" Friday vs. Texas Rangers
09/11/15 P Scott Feldman Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (9/14); out for season
05/19/15 P Samuel Deduno Back Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/14), out for season
04/17/15 P Brad Peacock Hip Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/14); out for season

Josh's Pick: Take the Rangers

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