The second half of the MLB season is underway and there is added urgency among the teams as they jockey for positions in their bid to reach the postseason. There is plenty of baseball action tonight with intriguing showdowns between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers as well as the interleague matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Tampa Bay Rays.
To get a grip on all the baseball action, you can check out our MLB Free Picks for the top 5 baseball games happening today. Meanwhile, read on for the analysis of these two important baseball encounters.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Texas Rangers (+150) at New York Yankees (-170); total: 9.0 – view all MLB lines
New York and Texas resume their three-game series with the Rangers playing spoiler in the opening game of their three-game set defeating the Yankees 4-2 as they ended New York’s three-game winning-streak.
[sc:MLB240banner ]The Yankees will send Chase Whitley (4-3, 5.10 ERA) to the mound as he takes on the Rangers’ Nick Martinez (1-6, 5.10 ERA). Whitley’s last start ended in a washout as he lost a tough 3-1 to the Orioles in just five innings. This time he can rely on a resurgent Yankees offense which has scored 16 runs in its first four games following the All-Star break.
Martinez on the other hand has not won a game since May 24 allowing 30 earned runs in his last seven starts. In fact, the Rangers are the second-worst team in the majors when it comes to team ERA with a 4.90 mark as they have stumbled to a disappointing 40-59 record this season.
The Yankees are 3-2 in their last five home games but the Rangers are 4-1 in their last five away games at Yankee Stadium.
Writer’s Prediction
The Yankees will pounce on Nick Martinez and even the series at a game apiece.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. St. Louis Cardinals (8:15 PM ET)
Line: Tampa Bay Rays (+150) at St. Louis Cardinals (-170); total: 7.0 – view all MLB lines
The St. Louis Cardinals host the Tampa Bay Rays in the opening game of their three-game interleague series where the Cardinals send ace Adam Wainwright (12-4, 1.83 ERA) to the mound to face Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi (5-8, 4.01 ERA).
Wainwright has been in scintillating form for the Cardinals going at least seven innings in his last seven starts allowing a total of just six runs in those starts. Odorizzi has also been solid in his last two starts going at least six innings allowing only two earned runs in each of those starts.
The Cardinals are half a game behind the Brewers for the NL Central lead, is 6-4 in their last 10 home games. Meanwhile, the Rays have impressed on the road lately, as they are 9-1 in their last ten away games.
Cardinals vs. Rays complete game preview here.
Writer’s Prediction
Adam Wainwright will put an end to the Rays’ six game winning streak on the road and stay in touch with the Brewers for the NL Central lead. Create a betting account now to cash in on this exciting matchup.
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