Thursday afternoon baseball and we will see the Texas Rangers take on the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. First pitch is scheduled for a 1:05 PM (Eastern) start time and the game will be televised on MLB Network. Current Betting Odds, according to Sportsbook.ag, have Texas listed as the favorite.
Current Odds
Texas -125
New York +105
Over/ Under: 9 U -120
Analysis: Texas evened this series at a game apiece on Wednesday, as Nelson Cruz belted a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to help the Rangers to an 8-5 win. Adrian Beltre finished with three hits and two RBI for Texas, which won for the sixth time in seven games. CF Leonys Martin carries an 11-game hitting streak into the series finale. The Yankees have been a nemesis for the Rangers and left-hander Derek Holland, who will take the mound Thursday with an 0-5 record and stratospheric 8.85 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) against New York. Holland's winless drought stretched to four starts when he allowed four runs on seven hits in a 6-4 loss at St. Louis his last time out. It was the third straight outing in which Holland permitted four runs, although he gave up only four hits after surrendering a total of 28 in his three previous outings. Holland has coughed up 11 homers in 39 2/3 innings against the Yankees. CF Leonys Martin carries an 11-game hitting streak into the series finale.
Five has been a magic number for the New York Yankees, who were the only team in the majors to have not lost when scoring that many runs - until Wednesday's 8-5 setback to the Texas Rangers dropped them to 24-1 in such scenarios. The Yankees will look to extend their home domination over the Rangers in today's afternoon series finale. Texas is 3-12 in its last 15 games at Yankee Stadium and hasn't won a series there since Aug. 25-27, 2009. The Mew York Yankees could be losing patience with Phil Hughes. Hughes, though, has lost three straight starts in the Bronx and is pitching to a horrific 13.91 ERA in those outings. The former first round pick lost for the fourth time in five decisions last Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, as he surrendered five runs and 10 hits in six innings to fall to 3-6 on the year to go along with a 5.09 ERA. With Ivan Nova back in the mix, Hughes could be pitching for his spot in the rotation on Thursday. Hughes is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 0.67 WHIP in four appearances (three starts) against Texas.
Pick: I like the Under in this one. Hughes could be pitching for his spot in the rotation so I expect a really good effort from him today, plus he does have nice numbers vs Texas in his career. Derek Holland does not have good numbers vs the Yanks, but he does have a decent 3.46 ERA on the road this year and the Yanks still struggle to score. Derek has a solid 3.54 ERA in days starts, despite an 0-3 record in those games. His 4 day starts have averaged just 6.3 rpg. I just don't see allot of runs in this one.
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