Monday, September 12, 2016

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Martin Perez vs. Doug Fister

The Texas Rangers visit Minute Maid Park on Monday to play the Houston Astros. The probable starters are Martin Perez for the Rangers and Doug Fister for the Astros. The Rangers have a 73-62-8 over/under record and a 76-67-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 53% of the time. The Astros are 65-77-0 against the run line and have a 64-70-8 over/under record. They cover the spread 46% of the time.

The Rangers head into this matchup with a 85-58 record, including 38-36 on the road. Starting pitcher Martin Perez has a 10-10 record with an earned run average of 4.25 and a WHIP of 1.43. He has 90 strikeouts over his 175.2 innings pitched and he has given up 182 hits so far this season. He has allowed 9.3 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.53. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.82 and they have given up 467 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .264 against the bullpen while being struck out 374 times and walking 168 times this season. As a team, Texas has allowed 9.08 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.16 batters per nine. They are 21st in the league in team earned run average at 4.43. The Rangers pitchers have collectively given up 1,282 base hits and 625 earned runs. They have allowed 178 home runs this season and they allow 1.3 homers per nine innings as a staff. Texas as a pitching staff has walked 475 batters and struck out 1,011. They walk 3.4 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.2 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.38 and their FIP as a unit is 4.61.

As a team, Texas is batting .265, good for 5th in the league while putting together a .250 average away from home. The Rangers hold a .438 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .325 which is good for 13th in baseball. They rank 7th in baseball with 9.04 hits per game. Adrian Beltre comes into this game hitting .296 and his on-base percentage is at .355. He has 154 hits this season along with 80 runs scored and 94 runs batted in. He's struck out 59 times and has walked 45 times. Ian Desmond is hitting .290 and he has an on-base percentage of .342. He has totaled 164 hits so far while scoring 102 runs and he's driven in 82. He has walked 41 times and has struck out 145 times. The Rangers have 1,293 hits, including 225 doubles and 193 home runs. They've stolen 83 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 31 times. Texas has walked 389 times this season and they've struck out 1,073 times as a unit. They've left 916 men on base and have a team OPS of .764. They score 4.86 runs per contest and have scored a total of 695 runs so far this year.

Houston comes into this matchup with a 40-30 home record and a 75-67 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.14, Doug Fister has a 12-11 record and a 1.37 WHIP. He has 104 strikeouts over the 165.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 171 hits. He has allowed 9.3 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.65. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.44 and they have given up 408 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .228 against the Astros bullpen while being struck out 526 times and walking 118 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 8.97 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.54 batters per nine. They are 9th in the league in team earned run average at 4.03. The Astros pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,280 base knocks and 574 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 164 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Houston as a staff has walked 379 hitters and struck out 1,220. They give up a walk 2.7 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.5 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.29 while their FIP as a staff is 3.88.

As a team, they are batting .247, good for 25th in the league while putting together a .235 average at home. The Astros hold a .421 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .322 which is good for 16th in baseball. They rank 24th in baseball with 8.47 hits per contest. Jose Altuve comes into this matchup batting .339 and he has an OBP of .401. He has 190 hits this year along with 97 runs scored and 92 RBI. He's struck out 66 times and has walked on 55 occasions. George Springer is hitting .258 and he has an OBP of .362. He has collected 145 hits so far while he's scored 107 runs and drove in 75. He has earned a walk 82 times and has punched out 154 times. The Astros as a unit have 1,203 base hits, including 260 doubles and 178 homers. They have 94 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 39 times. Houston as a team has walked 504 times this year and they have struck out 1,294 times. They've had 973 men left on base and have an OPS of .743. They score 4.57 runs per game and have totaled 649 runs so far this season.

Texas Rangers Betting Trends

The Texas Rangers are 73-62-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Texas Rangers are 76-67-0 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 64-70-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 65-77-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Texas Rangers

09/10/16 2B Rougned Odor Hamstring "?" Sunday vs. Los Angeles Angels
09/08/16 P Colby Lewis Back 60-day DL (6/22); expected to be activated & start Sunday
08/27/16 P Jeremy Jeffress Suspension placed on restricted list
08/24/16 P Shawn Tolleson Back 60-day DL (8/23)
08/18/16 P Lucas Harrell Groin 60-day DL (8/17)
08/15/16 RF Shin-Soo Choo Forearm 15-day DL (8/15)
07/20/16 DH Prince Fielder Neck 15-day DL (7/19), out for season

Houston Astros

09/10/16 SS Carlos Correa Shoulder "?" Sunday vs. Chicago Cubs
09/10/16 2B Jose Altuve Illness is upgraded to probable Sunday vs. Chicago Cubs
09/06/16 P Dallas Keuchel Shoulder out indefinitely
08/13/16 LF Preston Tucker Shoulder 15-day DL (8/11)
08/03/16 P Lance McCullers Elbow 15-day DL (8/2)
07/29/16 3B Luis Valbuena Hamstring 15-day DL (7/27)

Tony's Pick: Take the Rangers

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