COLORADO vs TEXAS
When: 12/29/2020 9:00 PM
Where:

TV: 9:00 PM
LINE: -9.5
PREDICTION: TEXAS , COLORADO

Oddsmakers currently have the TEXAS listed as -9.5 point favorites versus the COLORADO, while the game’s total is sitting at 63.5.

Upstart Colorado and No. 20 Texas, two teams with different expectations entering the 2020 season, will look to end the COVID-19-influenced campaign in style when they square off in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29 in San Antonio.

The Longhorns will play in the Alamo Bowl for the fifth time and second straight year, while Colorado will appear in the postseason game for the third time and first since losing to Oklahoma State in 2016.

Texas (6-3, 5-3 in Big 12 play) came into the season with an experienced and talented team that was expected to challenge for the Big 12 Conference title. But the Longhorns were derailed by early-season losses to TCU and Oklahoma and dropped a crucial game to Iowa State on the day after Thanksgiving that kept them out of the Big 12 championship game.

Still, Texas won four of its last five contests, including a 69-31 road win over Kansas State on Dec. 5 in its most recent outing. That stretch also included a road win over then-No. 6 Oklahoma State, which marked Texas’ first road victory over a top-10 opponent since 2010.

The Longhorns were supposed to play a rescheduled game at Kansas on Dec. 12 but the game was canceled because of positive COVID tests in the Texas program.

“Obviously, for us, it’s a return trip, and I know our kids will be excited, regardless of the circumstances that 2020 has thrown everyone’s way,” Texas coach Tom Herman said. “We are honored and proud to be a part of it, and I know we will definitely have our hands full.”

The Alamo Bowl marks the 57th all-time bowl appearance for the Longhorns, the second-most in the country behind only Alabama. It is the fourth-straight year Texas has appeared in a bowl game under Herman, with the Longhorns winning each of the first three.

“It will be bittersweet, but I’m going to savor every last practice, every last minute I have with this great group of seniors,” Herman said. “Most of them came in when we took this program over and have been great models of leadership for our team and our university.”

The Buffaloes were the surprise team of the Pac-12 this season and made the most out of their limited opportunities, finishing the regular season with a 4-1 mark, and 3-1 in league play for a second-place finish in the South Division.

With a roster that sports only a handful of seniors and a long list of underclassmen who earned valuable playing time, the bowl bid serves as another validation of what coach Karl Dorrell, who was not hired until February, is building in Boulder.

“We feel like our program’s on the rise,” Dorrell said. “We’re trying to get better week after week and keep improving the depth of our team with our freshmen and sophomores that are playing. This has really been an extra bonus year for us to build a foundation in our program. It was just another step.”

The Buffaloes head to San Antonio after losing their final game of the regular season 38-21 at home to Utah on Dec. 12. Colorado was set to play Oregon on Dec. 19 but that game was cancelled after the Ducks were elevated into the league’s championship after COVID issues kept Washington from playing in the title game.

Once conference foes in the Big 12, Texas and Colorado will face off for the 19th time in school history and for the first time since 2009. The Longhorns will be the first ranked opponent the Buffaloes will play in 2020.

“We’re looking forward to extending the fruits of our labor from what we’ve done so far this year,” Dorrell said. “To be able to play this game and celebrate the game of football and particularly postseason — it’s fun to be a part of that. We’re very, very thankful for the opportunity to play.”

The post COLORADO vs. TEXAS 12/29/2020 Free Pick & CFB Betting Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

The demands made in early June include renaming several campus buildings currently named after former Texas officials with ties to the Confederacy and segregation, and a call to drop the school song ”The Eyes of Texas.”

“We have been told that things are being done behind close(d) doors but have yet to see any changes,” Overshown tweeted.

The athletes made the demands amid calls for racial justice following the death of George Floyd while in custody of Minneapolis police.

Overshown said he’s been inspired by the activism of WNBA star Maya Moore, who sat out last season and worked to free a prison inmate whose supporters argued was wrongly convicted.

“With that being said until real action is taken, and real changes are made I will be sitting out of all team activities,” Overshown wrote. “I will support my team in whatever they do but this is something I’m very passionate about and I can not continue to perform for a program that doesn’t show me the same love and support I do for them”.

Even though the Texas campus is closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, Longhorns football players have returned to campus for summer workouts.

Texas junior safety Caden Sterns retweeted Overshown’s remarks with the note, “I support you brotha and back you! Love”.

A team spokesman said the school did not plan a response to Overshown’s remarks. Overshown played in eight games last season and finished with 19 tackles, two sacks and one interception.

The post Texas linebacker Overshown to sit out until ‘changes made’ appeared first on IdealCapper.

TEXAS vs SEATTLE
GAME: Texas Rangers (25-26) at Seattle Mariners (24-32)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Southwest (Texas), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
LINE: -135
PREDICTION: Mariners 6, Rangers 4

Oddsmakers currently have the SEATTLE listed as -135 point favorites versus the TEXAS, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

The Seattle Mariners ended their losing streak and exacted a bit of revenge by winning the series opener against the Texas Rangers. Seattle hopes to take another step toward getting even when it hosts Texas on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series.

The Mariners had dropped six in a row prior to posting a 6-2 victory on Monday, a slide that began with three consecutive setbacks in Texas. Daniel Vogelbach belted a two-run homer and Mallex Smith recorded four stolen bases to end his 12-game drought and tie the franchise single-game record as Seattle kicked off its 11-game homestand. Logan Forsythe and Nomar Mazara each recorded two of Texas’ six hits on Monday, with the former also driving in a run. Joey Gallo singled in the series opener to end a three-game drought that followed a six-game hitting streak as the Rangers suffered their third straight loss after winning five in a row and eight of nine.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Jesse Chavez (0-1, 4.55 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (5-4, 3.41)

Chavez will serve as the “opener” as Texas uses the same strategy it did in last Wednesday’s 2-1 win over the Mariners when Chavez (1 2/3 scoreless innings) started and was followed by Adrian Sampson, who worked 5 1/3 frames and allowed one run and four hits while registering a season high-tying five strikeouts. The 27-year-old Sampson (2-3, 4.44 ERA) has followed an “opener” in both of his last two appearances, posting a win each time, after making three straight traditional starts – surrendering 11 runs and 16 hits over 8 1/3 innings in the latter two, both of which were losses. Sampson, who grew up in the Seattle area, is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three career games (one start) versus the Mariners.

After winning his first five decisions of the season, Gonzales has lost his last four – including each of his last three starts. The 27-year-old native of Colorado’s last victory came at home against the Rangers on April 25, while his most recent outing was a loss at Texas on Wednesday in which he allowed only two runs – one earned – over seven innings. The setback dropped Gonzales to 4-2 with a 2.38 ERA in seven career starts against the Rangers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Vogelbach’s homer on Monday ended a five-game drought that followed a stretch during which he went deep five times in six contests.

2. Seattle claimed RHP Jimmy Cordero off waivers from Toronto and assigned him to Triple-A Tacoma while transferring RHP Gerson Bautista (pectoralis strain) to the 60-day injured list.

3. Texas recalled LHP Kyle Bird from Triple-A Nashville on Monday and designated RHP Jeanmar Gomez for assignment.

PREDICTION: Mariners 6, Rangers 4

The post TEXAS vs. SEATTLE 5/28/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

TEXAS vs SEATTLE
GAME: Texas Rangers (25-25) at Seattle Mariners (23-32)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 27 – 9:10 PM EST
WHERE: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
LINE: -115
PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Mariners 4

Oddsmakers currently have the SEATTLE listed as -115 point favorites versus the TEXAS, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

The Texas Rangers had won five straight contests and eight of nine before suffering back-to-back losses against the Los Angeles Angels. Texas attempts to get back on track versus a struggling team as it visits the Seattle Mariners on Monday for the opener of their three-game series.

The Rangers built a four-run lead against the Angels on Sunday before allowing six in the seventh inning and dropping a 7-6 decision. Shin-Soo Choo and Hunter Pence both went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs in the setback, with the former going deep for the fifth time in nine contests and the latter belting his third shot in six games. Seattle was pounded 7-1 in Oakland on Sunday for its sixth consecutive defeat, ninth in 10 contests and 13th in 16 outings. Jay Bruce has gone 6-for-12 over his last three games after registering half of the Mariners’ six hits – including a home run – in Sunday’s loss.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Lance Lynn (6-3, 4.67 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Tommy Milone (0-1, 3.60)

Lynn looks to remain perfect against the Mariners in his career after allowing two runs and five hits while registering a season-high 11 strikeouts over seven innings in a home victory on Tuesday. The 32-year-old native of Indiana also won his first two career outings in Seattle, including one on April 28 in which he permitted one run and five hits with nine strikeouts over seven frames. That turn began a stretch during which Lynn has given up three runs or fewer four times while winning four of five starts.

Milone made his season debut opposite Lynn on Tuesday and suffered the loss despite allowing only two runs and three hits over five innings. The setback dropped the 32-year-old Californian, who registered six strikeouts, to 3-5 with a 4.45 ERA in 11 career starts against Texas. Milone began the campaign with Triple-A Tacoma and went 4-2 with one shutout and a 3.83 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance.

WALK-OFFS

1. Choo has hit safely in seven of his last nine games, recording five two-hit performances in that span.

2. Seattle has suffered back-to-back three-game sweeps, including one in Texas last week during which it endured a pair of one-run losses and another by two runs.

3. Texas SS Elvis Andrus went 1-for-5 on Sunday, giving him at least one hit in five straight games and 11 of his last 12.

PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Mariners 4

The post TEXAS vs. SEATTLE 5/27/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

SEATTLE vs TEXAS
GAME: Seattle Mariners (23-28) at Texas Rangers (23-23)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 22 – 2:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Southwest (Texas)
LINE: 100
PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Mariners 4

Oddsmakers currently have the TEXAS listed as 100 point favorites versus the SEATTLE, while the game’s total is sitting at 12.

The Texas Rangers look for their fourth straight win and seventh in eight contests when they conclude their three-game series against the visiting Seattle Mariners on Wednesday afternoon. Texas posted a 5-3 victory on Tuesday and has scored a total of 15 runs in the first two games of the set.

Joey Gallo slugged his second homer in two days – and 15th of the season – and Nomar Mazara notched three hits and scored twice as the Rangers evened their record at 23-23. Six of Texas’ eight hits were for extra bases, and the club has registered six homers and 10 doubles in the first two contests of the series. Seattle hitters struck out 12 times on Tuesday as the club’s fortunes continue to sink with 17 setbacks in the last 22 games. Omar Narvaez, who has recorded six multi-hit performances this month, went 3-for-4 with a homer to raise his season average to .301.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (5-3, 3.65 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Jesse Chavez (0-1, 5.25)

Gonzales has dropped three straight decisions and is winless in his last four starts after opening the season with five straight victories. The 27-year-old gave up six runs – five earned – and eight hits over five innings while losing to Minnesota in his last outing. Gonzales worked seven scoreless frames while beating the Rangers on April 25 and is 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA in six career starts but has served up two homers to Gallo (4-for-13) and has struggled with Shin-Soo Choo (5-for-8).

Chavez, 34, will serve as the “opener” for the second time – he tossed a perfect inning against Houston on May 11 on the first occasion. Right-hander Adrian Sampson (1-3, 4.79) will replace him after having picked up a win against St. Louis on Friday, when he gave up two runs – one earned – and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings as the second pitcher behind “opener” Jose Leclerc. Sampson, who grew up in the Seattle area, is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Mariners.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers RHP Shawn Kelley (throat) was activated from the 10-day injured list and recorded a save on Tuesday while LHP Brett Martin was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.

2. The Mariners placed 2B Dee Gordon (wrist) and 3B Ryon Healy (back) on the IL, signed RHP Anthony Bass, activated INF Dylan Moore (wrist) from the IL, recalled INF Shed Long and purchased the contract of LHP Tommy Milone from Triple-A Tacoma, optioned RHP Parker Markel to the Rainiers and designated RHP Ryan Garton for assignment.

3. Texas LF Willie Calhoun (quadriceps) departed Tuesday’s game in the sixth inning and is questionable to play in the series finale.

PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Mariners 4

The post SEATTLE vs. TEXAS 5/22/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

SEATTLE vs TEXAS
GAME: Seattle Mariners (23-27) at Texas Rangers (22-23)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 21 – 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Southwest (Texas)
LINE: -130
PREDICTION: Rangers 8, Mariners 6

Oddsmakers currently have the TEXAS listed as -130 point favorites versus the SEATTLE, while the game’s total is sitting at 11.5.

The Texas Rangers are racking up runs in their wins over Seattle this season and look to pile up more when they host the Mariners on Tuesday. Texas held on for a 10-9 victory on Monday in the opener of the three-game series and has scored 39 runs in its three triumphs over Seattle this year.

The Rangers matched a season high with five homers and also recorded five doubles on Monday to win for the fifth time in six games. Asdrubal Cabrera belted two solo shots, Joey Gallo added one, Rougned Odor launched a three-run blast and Hunter Pence slugged a two-run homer. Seattle scored seven runs over its final two at-bats to reduce the deficit but ultimately lost for the 16th time in 21 games. Tim Beckham Jr. hit the first grand slam of his career while going 3-for-4 with a career-best five RBIs.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Tommy Milone (2018: 1-1, 5.81 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Lance Lynn (5-3, 4.94)

Milone will be recalled to make his club debut after going 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA in nine appearances (eight starts) for Triple-A Tacoma. The 32-year-old signed a minor-league deal with the Mariners in the offseason and is 42-37 with a 4.42 ERA in 151 appearances (130 starts) over parts of eight seasons. Milone is 3-4 with a 4.53 ERA in 10 career starts against the Rangers and has enjoyed success against Shin Soo-Choo and Cabrera, who are both 2-of-14.

Lynn has won five of his last seven starts and has allowed two or fewer runs on four occasions during the stretch. The 32-year-old defeated Kansas City in his last turn when he allowed one run and six hits over seven innings. Lynn matched his season best of nine strikeouts when he allowed one run and five hits over seven innings while beating Seattle on April 28 to improve to 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two career matchups.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners 3B Ryon Healy (back strain) departed the series opener and his status will be determined Tuesday.

2. All nine of Cabrera’s homers and 24 of his 25 RBIs have come at home.

3. Seattle traded RHP Anthony Swarzak to Atlanta for LHP Jesse Biddle and injured RHP Arodys Vizcaino (shoulder).

PREDICTION: Rangers 8, Mariners 6

The post SEATTLE vs. TEXAS 5/21/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

SEATTLE vs TEXAS
GAME: Seattle Mariners (23-26) at Texas Rangers (21-23)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 20 – 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Southwest (Texas)
LINE: -140
PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Rangers 3

Oddsmakers currently have the TEXAS listed as -140 point favorites versus the SEATTLE, while the game’s total is sitting at 11.

The Seattle Mariners are having a hard time washing off the odor that has followed them after losing 24 of 34 contests on the heels of a 13-2 start to the season. The Mariners could go a long way in doing so when they begin the first of six straight series versus American League West foes, starting with Monday’s opener of a three-game set against the host Texas Rangers.

Seattle answered an 18-4 drubbing on Saturday by belting three homers to snap a three-game skid with a 7-4 victory over Minnesota the following day. Edwin Encarnacion launched a three-run shot on Sunday to highlight his second straight three-hit performance, and the 36-year-old also had a three-run blast in a 5-4 win over Texas on April 26. The Rangers have answered a five-game skid with four wins in their last five outings, including Sunday’s 5-4 victory in 10 innings against St. Louis. Nomar Mazara, whose sacrifice fly capped a two-run rally in the 10th inning of that contest, is 5-for-13 with a homer in his career against Monday starter Mike Leake.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Mike Leake (3-4, 4.00 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Mike Minor (4-3, 2.61)

Leake looks to redeem himself after a dismal performance in his last outing versus Texas, against which he allowed nine runs (five earned) on 10 hits in a 15-1 shellacking on April 27. The 31-year-old has pitched significantly better in his last three starts, including picking up his first win since April 6 after allowing three runs over 6 2/3 innings of a 4-3 victory versus Oakland on Tuesday. Leake owns a 1-2 mark with a 3.64 ERA in seven career starts against the Rangers, although Hunter Pence (15-for-39), Asdrubal Cabrera (5-for-14) and Shin-Soo Choo (7-for-23, two homers) have all fared well versus the hurler.

While Leake struggled mightily in last month’s meeting, Minor faced no such issues as he recorded 13 strikeouts while scattering three hits over seven innings to subdue Seattle. The 31-year-old improved to 1-2 with a 5.33 ERA in five starts versus the Mariners in his two seasons with Texas. Minor has allowed just five runs in his last four outings, with one coming on eight hits across five innings of a 6-1 win at Kansas City on Wednesday.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas OF-DH Joey Gallo is 8-for-16 with one homer, two RBIs and five runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.

2. Mariners RF Mitch Haniger, who homered on Sunday, went 1-for-11 with four strikeouts in the previous series with the Rangers.

3. Texas 2B Rougned Odor went 2-for-15 with eight strikeouts in the previous series with Seattle.

PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Rangers 3

The post SEATTLE vs. TEXAS 5/20/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

ST LOUIS vs TEXAS
GAME: St. Louis Cardinals (23-21) at Texas Rangers (19-22)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 17 – 8:05 PM EST
WHERE: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Southwest (Texas)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Cardinals 8, Rangers 4

Oddsmakers currently have the TEXAS listed as point favorites versus the ST LOUIS, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Texas Rangers won their last two games by a cumulative 22-2 score and look to continue the onslaught when they open a three-game interleague series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Texas slugged five homers during a 21-hit assault on Thursday as it rolled to a 16-1 victory in Kansas City.

Joey Gallo and Willie Calhoun each homered during four-hit performances while Danny Santana also recorded four hits during Thursday’s romp. Rougned Odor belted two homers among his three hits and Hunter Pence launched his fifth blast in eight contests. St. Louis is struggling badly with 11 losses in 14 games after being pounded 10-2 in Atlanta on Thursday. Marcell Ozuna is just 5-for-40 over his last 10 games, but his homer on Thursday was his second in three contests.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (4-3, 3.83 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Jose Leclerc (1-1, 6.32)

Mikolas has allowed just three runs and 13 hits in 20 innings over his last three starts. The 30-year-old won the first two outings of the stretch before being a hard-luck loser his last time out, when he gave up two runs and three hits in seven frames against Pittsburgh. Mikolas, who never has faced the Rangers, didn’t fare well at Globe Life Park while pitching for Texas in 2014 as he went 0-4 with a 13.73 ERA in four starts.

The 25-year-old Leclerc, who recently lost the closer’s job, will work the first inning as the “opener” before giving way to Adrian Sampson. The 27-year-old Sampson is 0-3 with a 5.25 ERA and has suffered the loss in each of his last two appearances, giving up 11 runs – 10 earned – and 16 hits over 8 1/3 innings. Sampson has served up seven homers in 36 frames, including three over his last two contests.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers LHP Drew Smyly (ankle) had his start pushed back from Friday to Sunday while RHP Shelby Miller, who originally was scheduled to start on Sunday, temporarily will be used in relief.

2. St. Louis plans to activate RHP Carlos Martinez (shoulder), who has yet to make his season debut, on Saturday.

3. Texas INF Logan Forsythe has gone 9-for-16 with five doubles, one triple and five RBIs over his last four games.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 8, Rangers 4

The post ST LOUIS vs. TEXAS 5/17/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

TEXAS vs KANSAS CITY
GAME: Texas Rangers (18-22) at Kansas City Royals (15-28)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 16 – 1:15 PM EST
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

TV: 1:15 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS Kansas City
LINE: 100
PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Royals 4

Oddsmakers currently have the KANSAS CITY listed as 100 point favorites versus the TEXAS, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

Nomar Mazara attempts to build on a three-game hot streak when the Texas Rangers conclude a three-game series against the host Kansas City Royals on Thursday. Mozara matched his career high of four hits on Wednesday to help the Rangers post a 6-1 victory.

Mazara is 8-for-14 during the three-game run after scuffling through a 4-for-33 stretch over his previous nine appearances. Ronald Guzman and Willie Calhoun slugged two-run homers and Shin-Soo Choo hit a solo blast as the Rangers halted a five-game slide. The Royals have lost eight of their past 12 contests and allowed at least six runs in each of their last five setbacks. Kansas City shortstop Adalberto Mondesi reached base four times on three hits and a walk after going 3-for-20 with eight strikeouts over the previous five games.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Lance Lynn (4-3, 5.48 ERA) vs. Royals RH Homer Bailey (4-3, 4.83)

Lynn served up three homers in his last turn as he gave up three runs and six hits over seven innings in a loss to the Houston Astros. The 32-year-old won four of his previous five starts and gave up two or fewer runs in three of the outings. Lynn is 2-2 with a 5.13 ERA in seven career starts against the Royals and has struggled with Alex Gordon (10-for-19) while dominating Whit Merrifield (0-for-10).

Bailey has won his past two starts and four of his last six outings. The 33-year-old beat the Philadelphia Phillies in his last turn when he gave up one run and four hits over five innings. Bailey has never faced Texas but saw plenty of Hunter Pence (6-for-21, one homer) and Asdrubal Cabrera (5-for-17) during his time in the National League with the Cincinnati Reds.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rangers placed SS Elvis Andrus (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list, recalled Calhoun and LHP Jeffrey Springs from Triple-A Nashville and optioned RHP Wei-Chieh Huang to the same affiliate.

2. Kansas City CF Billy Hamilton went 0-for-2 with two sacrifice hits to end a six-game hitting streak in which he went 8-for-21.

3. Logan Forsythe, who will play SS while Andrus is sidelined, is 7-for-11 with five doubles and a triple over the past three games.

PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Royals 4

The post TEXAS vs. KANSAS CITY 5/16/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

TEXAS vs HOUSTON
GAME: Texas Rangers (17-20) at Houston Astros (25-15)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 12 – 2:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
LINE: -215
PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Astros 3

Oddsmakers currently have the HOUSTON listed as -215 point favorites versus the TEXAS, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

The Houston Astros proved they could thrive offensively without one of their top hitters last time out and hope to do so again on Sunday as they attempt to complete a four-game sweep of the visiting Texas Rangers. Houston pounded out 13 hits on Saturday en route to an 11-4 victory without Jose Altuve, who suffered a strained left hamstring a day earlier.

A three-time batting champion, two-time stolen-base leader and former American League MVP, Altuve was placed on the 10-day injured list following Saturday’s contest. His replacement at second base contributed to Saturday’s win as Aledmys Diaz belted a grand slam to back a 12-strikeout effort by Gerrit Cole and help the Astros to their fourth consecutive victory. Hunter Pence and Ronald Guzman homered for the Rangers, who are 1-4 on their nine-game road trip. Pence has hit safely in five of his last six contests, recording four homers and 11 RBIs in that span.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Adrian Sampson (0-2, 4.41 ERA) vs. Astros RH Corbin Martin (ML Debut)

Sampson remains in search of his first major-league victory as he makes his third consecutive start, his fifth of the season and the 10th of his career. The 27-year-old native of Washington is coming off back-to-back turns against Pittsburgh – a no-decision at home on April 30 after scattering five hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings and a road loss on Tuesday in which he yielded five runs and seven hits over five frames. Sampson has made one start and one relief appearance versus Houston in his career, going 0-1 while giving up three runs and 11 hits over 10 1/3 innings.

Martin is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to make his major-league debut in place of the struggling Collin McHugh, who is moving to the bullpen. A native of Houston, the 23-year-old Martin was a second-round pick out of Texas A&M in the 2017 draft. Martin has made four starts and one relief appearance for Round Rock this season, going 1-1 with a 1.48 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Astros have outscored the Rangers 18-6 over the first three games of the series.

2. Rangers RHP Shawn Kelley (infection) threw a bullpen session on Saturday and expects to be activated from the 10-day IL on Thursday.

3. Texas signed RHP Josh Fields, who spent the last 2 1/2 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Nashville.

PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Astros 3

The post TEXAS vs. HOUSTON 5/12/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.