It's a matinee Major League Baseball game for the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees on Thursday afternoon. The game is scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. EST start time and it will be televised nationally on MLB.tv. Currently the odds for the game have the Yankees favored at -132 (Risk $132 to win $100).
The Yankees have won all three of the games in this series to date, picking up a 3-2 win last night as Freddy Garcia was on fire, shutting down the Rangers. Texas has absolutely struggled offensively in this series, scoring just four runs in the three games. Texas has collected just 14 hits in the three games as well. Today the Yankees go for the sweep in what would be very impressive over a Texas team that arguably was the best in baseball for a good period of time this season. Derek Holland gets the start for the Rangers today and he has an inflated ERA that's nearly 5 runs. Current Yankees are connected for a .322 average in nearly 150 plate appearances. In seven regular-season games -- six starts -- Holland is 0-5 with a 9.26 ERA while allowing the Yankees to hit .340. The Rangers lost their eighth straight at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. Eric Chavez has somehow come alive, batting .514 (19 for 37) with five homers and 11 RBIs in his last 11 games. However, he really struggles against lefties, so there's a chance he doesn't play today. Ivan Nova (11-6, 4.70) gets the start for the Yankees. Last season Nova was 2-1 with a 4.67 ERA against the Rangers. Ian Kinsler is 0 for 11 with four strikeouts in the Bronx this week. Adrian Beltre is struggling as well while Michael Young didn't start Wednesday and is 1 for his last 14 at bats. The total for the game is set at 10 runs, so it's likely that both teams will be able to put up some runs in this contest.
Free Pick: We're going to take the over in this game rather than take either side. Let's be honest, the Rangers do not get swept a lot, but they're underdogs in this game for a reason. The Yankees have been playing excellent baseball and hit Holland well, but only being a mild favorite kind of has us thinking as well. Nova also has a surprising ERA of 6.16 at Yankee Stadium this season, so a lot of runs being scored is the recipe for success today.
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