Thursday, May 5, 2016

Rogers Centre

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Derek Holland vs. J.A. Happ

The Texas Rangers visit Rogers Centre on Thursday to play the Toronto Blue Jays. The probable starters are Derek Holland for the Rangers and J.A. Happ for the Blue Jays. The Rangers have a 12-14-1 over/under record and a 14-13-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 52% of the time. The Blue Jays are 15-13-0 against the run line and have a 8-18-2 over/under record. They cover the spread 54% of the time.

The Rangers head into this matchup with a 15-12 record, including 5-7 on the road. Starting pitcher Derek Holland has a 3-1 record with an earned run average of 2.48 and a WHIP of 1.03. He has 18 strikeouts over his 29 innings pitched and he has given up 22 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.8 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.54. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.95 and they have given up 88 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .277 against the bullpen while being struck out 70 times and walking 27 times this season. As a team, Texas has allowed 8.59 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.84 batters per nine. They are 11th in the league in team earned run average at 3.68. The Rangers pitchers have collectively given up 231 base hits and 99 earned runs. They have allowed 38 home runs this season and they allow 1.4 homers per nine innings as a staff. Texas as a pitching staff has walked 91 batters and struck out 184. They walk 3.4 men per 9 innings while striking out 6.8 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.33 and their FIP as a unit is 4.86.

As a team, Texas is batting .254, good for 11th in the league while putting together a .233 average away from home. The Rangers hold a .393 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .313 which is good for 17th in baseball. They rank 12th in baseball with 8.41 hits per game. Adrian Beltre comes into this game hitting .277 and his on-base percentage is at .330. He has 28 hits this season along with 11 runs scored and 15 runs batted in. He's struck out 10 times and has walked 9 times. Elvis Andrus is hitting .295 and he has an on-base percentage of .326. He has totaled 26 hits so far while scoring 8 runs and he's driven in 13. He has walked 5 times and has struck out 11 times. The Rangers have 227 hits, including 50 doubles and 23 home runs. They've stolen 14 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 8 times. Texas has walked 71 times this season and they've struck out 196 times as a unit. They've left 165 men on base and have a team OPS of .706. They score 4.26 runs per contest and have scored a total of 115 runs so far this year.

Toronto comes into this matchup with a 6-8 home record and a 13-15 overall mark. With an earned run average of 2.76, J.A. Happ has a 3-0 record and a 1.22 WHIP. He has 20 strikeouts over the 32.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 31 hits. He has allowed 8.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.53. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.79 and they have given up 74 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .262 against the Blue Jays bullpen while being struck out 72 times and walking 22 times this season. As a team, Toronto has allowed 8.29 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.52 batters per nine. They are 8th in the league in team earned run average at 3.60. The Blue Jays pitchers as a team have surrendered 228 base knocks and 99 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 28 home runs this year and they give up 1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Toronto as a staff has walked 81 hitters and struck out 207. They give up a walk 2.9 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.5 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.25 while their FIP as a staff is 3.95.

As a team, they are batting .230, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .249 average at home. The Blue Jays hold a .393 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .315 which is good for 15th in baseball. They rank 26th in baseball with 7.54 hits per contest. Josh Donaldson comes into this matchup batting .292 and he has an OBP of .395. He has 31 hits this year along with 26 runs scored and 21 RBI. He's struck out 28 times and has walked on 16 occasions. Jose Bautista is hitting .219 and he has an OBP of .358. He has collected 21 hits so far while he's scored 16 runs and drove in 18. He has earned a walk 22 times and has punched out 26 times. The Blue Jays as a unit have 211 base hits, including 44 doubles and 33 homers. They have 9 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 4 times. Toronto as a team has walked 104 times this year and they have struck out 261 times. They've had 184 men left on base and have an OPS of .708. They score 3.89 runs per game and have totaled 109 runs so far this season.

Texas Rangers Betting Trends

The Texas Rangers are 12-14-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Texas Rangers are 14-13-0 against the run line so far this season

Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends

The Toronto Blue Jays are 8-18-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Toronto Blue Jays are 15-13-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Texas Rangers

04/21/16 P Keone Kela Elbow 15-day DL (4/20)
04/11/16 C Robinson Chirinos Forearm 60-day DL (4/9)
04/10/16 RF Shin-Soo Choo Calf 15-day DL (4/9)
04/10/16 P Tanner Schepper Knee 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 RF Josh Hamilton Knee 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Luke Jackson Back 15-day DL (3/25)
04/03/16 C Chris Gimenez Ankle 15-day DL (3/27)
04/03/16 P Yu Darvish Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)

Toronto Blue Jays

04/22/16 1B Chris Colabello Suspension expected to miss 80 games
04/10/16 P Franklin Morales Arm 15-day DL (4/7)
04/04/16 P Aaron Loup Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 2B Devon Travis Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Bo Schultz Hip 15-day DL (3/25)

Josh's Pick: Take the Blue Jays

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