Major League Baseball gives us a taste of interleague action tonight. The Los Angeles Dodgers play the second game of their series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Dodgers have struggled on the road with their 12-17 record this season thus far. Meanwhile, the Rangers are powered by a couple of youngsters coming from excellent performances. Think the Rangers can take a 2-0 lead in this series before it shifts to Los Angeles? Read on for a complete preview of this game.
There’s plenty going on in the world of sports tonight. Check out the complete previews for the Nigeria vs. USA FIFA Women’s World Cup match and Warriors vs. Cavaliers Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Texas Rangers Preview
Where: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas
When: Tuesday, June 16, 8:05 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Dodgers (-150) at Texas Rangers (+135); total 9.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ hot bats (seventh in the majors with 279 runs) were cooled-off last night in a 4-1 loss at Texas. They went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Yasiel Puig was at the forefront of the struggle, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. But don’t expect him to remain cold, as he’s hitting .419 in eight games since returning from a hamstring injury.
[sc:MLB240banner ]It wasn’t all bad at the plate, though. Cleanup hitter Howie Kendrick went 2-for-4, while Justin Turner hit 2-of-4 at the heart of the order. But they may struggle tonight against Texas starter Chi Chi Gonzalez, who has limited opposing righties to hit .105 in three starts this season.
The Dodgers will put Brett Anderson (2-4, 3.57 ERA) on the mound tonight. Anderson is coming off his worst performance of the season, allowing four earned runs on eight hits (two home runs) in five innings against Arizona on June 10. Anderson could continue struggling; he’s 0-3 with a 10.69 ERA in his last six games (three starts) against Texas.
The total has gone under in the last four meetings between the Dodgers and Rangers.
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Betting on the Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers have a sparkling gem in Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-1, 0.42 ERA). He’s been impressive, even in the first loss of his rookie career. Gonzalez allowed one earned run in the first inning against Oakland on June 11. Then, he proceeded to throw six scoreless innings before exiting the game. Texas went on to lose the game 7-0.
Gonzalez was impressive in his lone start at home, limiting Boston to just two hits in 5.2 innings of an 8-0 win on May 30. Expect him to limit the Dodgers’ right-hand heavy batting order.
Another youngster was off to a great performance at the plate in yesterday’s victory. Rougned Odor went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs in his first game in the majors since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. He was batting .144 with one homer and nine RBIs in 29 games before being sent to the minors earlier in the season.
If Odor struggles again, the Rangers can still count on Mitch Moreland, who’s batting .357 with four doubles, 12 RBIs and three homers in his current 10-game hitting streak. Moreland has hit 2-of-5 against Los Angeles’ Anderson in his career.
The Rangers have won eight of their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Rangers (+135) batter Anderson for another big home win.
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