Tampa Bay Rays (74-61) @ Texas Rangers (77-60)
With the addition of top-notch hitter back to their lineup tonight, the Texas Rangers are looking to capture the rubber match against the Tampa Bay Rays at The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. Having lost 8 or their past 13 games, the Rangers have seen their lead atop the American League West division shrink to just 3.5 games over the LA Angeles. The Rays, who play in the toughest division in baseball, are still 7.5 games out of a playoff spot. Many handicappers seem to be leaning toward the Rays, who are playing well, and have the hot pitcher even though sportsbooks have the Rangers as -150 favorites.
Beltre had been having a great year before he went down with a hamstring injury. He was hitting .276, but had belted out 20 home runs and driven in 76 RBIs. Tampa Bay’s Jeff Niemann (9-5, 3.46 ERA) takes to the mound for the Rays, while Texas has C.J. Wilson (13-6, 3.29) pitching. Wilson had been pitching well, going 3-0 with a 1.37 ERA in four starts before getting hammered for six runs last weekend. Niemann has been pitching great himself as of late, going 8-1 in his last nine decisions.
Philadelphia Phillies (86-46) @ Cincinnati Reds (67-69)
Vance Worley takes to the mound for Philadelphia Phillies, who are looking to do something against the Reds that they haven’t done since 1916: sweep a four game set in Cincinnati. Worley (9-1, 2.65 ERA) has been next to unbeatable when he pitches, as the Phils has won 13 of 14 games he’s started this year. The Reds have also dropped 13 or 14 games vs the Phillies this year as well. So it’s no wonder that sportsbooks have the Phillies as -135 road favorites.
