Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers ALDS Game 1 Betting Preview
Where: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, MD
When: Thursday, October 6, 2016, 4:30 PM ET
Line: Toronto Blue Jays (+130) at Texas Rangers (-140); total: 9.0 – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: TBS
Writer’s Pick: Toronto Blue Jays (+130)
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Betting on the Toronto Blue Jays (+130)
Thanks in part to Orioles manager Buck Showalter’s epic blunder, we’ll be seeing a Blue Jays-Rangers rematch. From their tension-filled series last postseason, to Jose Bautista’s bat flip in the same series (which infuriated the Rangers and their fans), to his scuffle with Rougned Odor this past May, there’s just no love lost between the two teams. If you are not at the very least curious to see what may happen next, better get checked.
Toronto will be sending out Marco Estrada (9-9, 3.48 ERA) for the series opener. The eight-year veteran struggled from late August to early September, but has since recovered. In his last three starts, he has only given up two earned runs on nine hits and seven walks over 19 innings, while striking out 19.
In facing Rangers’ projected starter, Cole Hamels, the Blue Jays will be eyeing Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, and Troy Tulowitzki to kickstart the offense. The three are batting a combined .342 opposite the pitcher and they are the only players on the team to hit a home run over him.
The game will be third baseman Josh Donaldson’s first meeting with Hamels, and he is expected to be a big help in engineering runs and scores, just as he is for the past two years. The veteran righty led his team in runs (122), and hits (122) this season, and was second in homers (37).
Toronto is 6-4 in its last 10 games on the road.
Betting on the Texas Rangers (-140)
The AL West division champion Texas Rangers are sure to be hyped up for this grudge match. Last year’s ALDS loss to the Blue Jays stung quite a bit, as they lost the series 3-2 after winning the first two games.
Their road to playoff redemption will begin by starting Cole Hamels (15-5 with a 3.32 ERA and had 200 strikeouts in 200.2 innings). The lefty had a much better year than his ERA states, as he was actually at the 2.67 mark around late August, before slowly fizzling towards the end of the season.
Offensively, the Rangers have had a tough time against Marco Estrada, collectively batting an awful .214 (24-of-112). Centerfielder Ian Desmond, the team’s leader in runs (107) and hits (178), has only produced two hits in 18 at-bats versus the pitcher, and has struck out 10 times. Designated hitter Carlos Beltran, meanwhile, is at a satisfactory .267 (eight hits, one homer, five RBIs, and four walks).
The silver lining is Rougned Odor. The second baseman has only faced Estrada six times and only has one hit; that one hit, however, was a home run. He will have a good chance to get his second this Thursday.
Texas is 5-5 in its last 10 games at home.
Writer’s Prediction
The visiting Blue Jays (+130) draw first blood, 4-2.
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