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The 73-50 Texas Rangers will play the second of a two game set versus the 50-70 Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida tonight. The first pitch is scheduled to be tossed at Tropicana Park at 6:10 PM ET.
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In Game 2 of this three game series yesterday the Rangers beat the Rays 6-2. In yesterday’s game the Texas scored six runs on 11 hits, with Adrian Beltre going deep twice, while the Rays scored two runs on six hits.
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Texas is hot winners of four in a row and they are atop the AL West with a seven game lead over the Seattle Mariners. The Rangers rank 8th in the Majors in runs scored and 19th in team ERA. While their pitching has not been their strength on the season Texas has only given up 10 runs in their four game winning streak.
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The Rays had their four game winning streak snapped with their loss to the Rangers yesterday and they are in the basement of the AL East 18 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays.
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<h2>
Pitching Match Up<br />
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Texas: A.J. Griffin (5-2, 4.68 ERA) Tampa Bay: Jake Odorizzi (7-5, 3.72 ERA)
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A.J. Griffin goes for the Rangers tonight and in his last outing he was roughed up for six earned runs in six innings in a 7-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The Rangers had won his previous four starts, but in his last two starts he has gone 10 innings and had given up 11 earned runs. Griffin got off to a good start to the season, but in July had an ERA of 5.84 and in August has a less than stellar ERA of 7.41. The Rangers are 4-1 in Griffin’s last five road starts.
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Jake Odorizzi gets the nod for the Rays and in his last outing he gave up three earned runs in six innings in a 12-3 win over the New York Yankees. The Rays have won three of his last four starts. Odorizzi is 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA since the All Star Break. In three career starts against the Rangers he is 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA and in two home starts facing them his ERA is only 0.71.
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<h2>
Betting Angles<br />
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The Rangers are 5-0 in their last 5 games against the Rays.
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In the last 12 games between these teams in Tampa Bay the Over record is 8-3-1.
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This season the Rays are 28-35 at home and the Rangers are 34-30 on the road.
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<h2>
STRAIGHT UP / OVER/UNDER / RUN LINE RECORDS<br />
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Texas Rangers: 73-50 SU / O/U 57-59 / Run Line W/L 67-56 Tampa Bay Rays: 50-70 SU / O/U 55-58 / Run Line W/L 52-68
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<h2>
Texas at Tampa Bay Key Betting Trends<br />
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TEX is 10-3 in their last 13 overall.
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TEX is 5-0 in their last 5 road games.
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TEX has an Under record of 9-1-2 in their last 12 road games.
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TB is 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
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TB is 15-37 in their last 52 vs. a team with a winning record.
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TB has an Over record of 10-3 in their last 13 games.
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<h2>
Key Player Injuries<br />
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<b>RANGERS</b><br />
[CF] 05/24/2016 - Drew Stubbs 60-day DL (5/23) ( Toe )<br />
[P] 05/28/2016 - Tanner Scheppers 60-day DL (3/25) ( Knee )<br />
[P] 06/22/2016 - Derek Holland 60-day DL (6/21) ( Shoulder )<br />
[RF] 04/04/2016 - Josh Hamilton 60-day DL (3/25) ( Knee )<br />
[P] 08/18/2016 - Lucas Harrell 15-day DL (8/17) ( Groin )<br />
[RF] 08/15/2016 - Shin-Soo Choo 15-day DL (8/15) ( Forearm )<br />
[DH] 07/20/2016 - Prince Fielder 15-day DL (7/19), out for season ( Neck )<br />
[P] 06/26/2016 - Colby Lewis 60-day DL (6/22) ( Back )
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<b>RAYS </b><br />
[RF] 07/31/2016 - Oswaldo Arcia 15-day DL (7/27) ( Elbow )<br />
[LF] 08/07/2016 - Desmond Jennings 15-day DL (8/3) ( Knee )<br />
[P] 08/07/2016 - Enny Romero 15-day DL (8/4) ( Back )<br />
[2B] 08/17/2016 - Nick Franklin injured last game, "?" Friday vs. Texas Rangers ( Head )<br />
[SS] 08/17/2016 - Matt Duffy "?" Friday vs. Texas Rangers ( Achilles )<br />
[2B] 08/17/2016 - Logan Forsythe "?" Friday vs. Texas Rangers ( Back )<br />
[P] 04/01/2016 - Alex Cobb 60-day DL (3/25) ( Elbow )
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