MLB Baseball
2018-04-13 - Texas Rangers at Houston Astros
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: MLB Baseball
Friday 13th April 2018 - First Pitch 8:10pm
British Time: 1:10pm
Preview
These Divisional rivals have already played a four game series earlier in the 2018 season, but this time the Houston Astros (9-4) will be hosting the Texas Rangers (4-10) at the beginning of a three game set.
The starts made by the current World Series Champions and the Rangers have not been unexpected, but it is still early enough in the season to see things turned around. Over the course of the season you would expect Houston to finish a number of games clear of the Texas Rangers and they can stamp their authority on this Divisional rivalry by winning another series over the next three days.
The Rangers have lost their last four games in a row and will give the ball to Cole Hamels to try and get back on track. Hamels has been a much sought after pitcher in recent years as contenders have tried to add him to their starting rotations, but he has begun this season with a 1-2 record and a 5.06 ERA.
He is 7-5 with a 4.22 ERA in his seventeen previous starts against the Houston Astros, but Hamels did allow three runs in just under 6 innings pitched against them on Opening Day as he was handed the loss. The Rangers will need Hamels to be at his best in this one though with the injuries piling up to hurt their start to the 2018 season.
Scoring runs has been an issue for the Houston Astros in recent games which may be a concern for them, but the familiarity with Hamels could help. Houston may not need a lot of runs to win this one though if Gerrit Cole continues pitching with the quality he has shown in his first couple of starts for the Astros.
Cole has only pitched in the National League in his career so the move to the American League could have been a difficult one, although Cole looks like he is very comfortable. He is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA having allowed one run in 14 innings pitched and Cole held Texas to that single run in 7 innings pitched against them once already this season.
That means the pitcher is now 2-0 against the Texas Rangers in his career having allowed a single run in 14 innings pitched against them.
Prediction
If the Houston batting line up had been in better form you would really fancy them to win this opening of a three game series very comfortably. Perhaps they turned a corner when erasing a seven run deficit to the Minnesota Twins in their last game and they also have the stronger pitcher going to the mound.
Gerrit Cole has been seen by the Texas Rangers once already this season which may give them a better understanding of what he wants to do on the mound. However injuries are hurting the Rangers and they can't rely on Cole Hamels as teams once could.
I will look for Houston to come away with a win by a couple of runs at least.
The Pick :
Houston Astros 5-2 Texas Rangers
