MLB Game Preview for April 2, 2011: Boston Red Sox @ Texas Rangers

Discussion in 'MLB General' started by UncleRico, Apr 1, 2011.

  1. UncleRico

    UncleRico Suspended

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    Sports Betting Overview

    To start off the 2011 MLB betting season, the Boston Red Sox get the defending AL champion Texas Rangers. As March Madness betting comes to a close, the MLB season opens up for 2011. A limited slate of games has already been played as MLB is trying to prevent the World Series from lasting into November. Some of the opening day MLB scores were a bit surprising, such as the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers. But this game will show a changing of the guard in the AL, as the Red Sox look to start their march towards the 2011 World Series.

    The Texas Rangers are not the team they were in 2011. With Cliff Lee no longer on the Rangers’ starting rotation, that leaves C.J. Wilson as the staff ace. Wilson is a good pitcher, but being the ace is new for him. Once you get into the third and fourth pitchers in the Texas starting lineup, it is a guessing game as to what you will get. Derek Holland and Brandon Webb are not consistent winners at the MLB level, but they will be counted on a lot during the 2011 season. The Texas offense is led by Josh Hamilton and appears to be in good shape. But a makeshift bullpen and shaky starting rotation could give the Rangers problems all season long.

    Boston Red Sox
    The Red Sox started their ace Jon Lester in the opening game of this series against C.J. Wilson. The second man in the Boston rotation is John Lackey. Lackey finished 2010 with a lackluster 4.40 ERA, but he was 5-1 against the AL last year. Lackey has been one of the hardest working pitchers in the AL in the last few years as he has racked up 248 starts since 2003.

    The Red Sox offense is intimidating. With the added dimension of base stealing and power hitting that Carl Crawford brings, the rest of the Red Sox batting order becomes that much more dangerous. This is a critical year for designated hitter David Ortiz. It is unlikely that the Red Sox will watch Ortiz struggle for another full season. If Big Papi cannot light up his bat early, then there may be a new DH in Beantown.

    Texas Rangers
    The Rangers put Colby Lewis on the mound for this game. Lewis’ 12-13 record in 2010 is deceiving. When the pressure was on in the playoffs, Lewis went 3-0. During the regular season last year, he finished with 196 strikeouts. He was the victim of some bad bullpen pitching and his own inconsistency last year. This year he hopes to turn his game around and become the dominant pitcher the Rangers expect him to be.

    The Rangers batting order is all about scoring runs. There is a lot of power on the Texas lineup, but there is also a lot of strikeouts. John Lackey may be the kind of control pitcher that the Texas hitters do not want to see this early in the season.

    The Bottom Line
    The Rangers no longer have the tools to win the AL, but they can still be competitive. If the Red Sox pitching holds up then Boston could be looking at the AL title this year instead of Texas.

    Pick: Boston Red Sox
     

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