MLB - Toronto BlueJays at Texas Rangers
2:05 PM EST

Today at 2:05 the Toronto BlueJays face the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark.  Straight up this season Texas is a better club on paper. Their record is 15-9 and Toronto is 11-13.  Texas is still riding high on last years performance which got them to the World Series. Their bats are strong and their pitching is solid.  Toronto has been a mediocre team as of recent years. They finished 85-77 last year and 75-87 the year before.  In fact, they haven't been a force since winning it all in the mid 90's.

There are two very important aspects to any match-up, The bats and the pitching. And in fact, the pitching is the single most important thing there is. If they can't score, they can't win. That is a fact. 

Brandon Morrow takes the mound for Toronto. He is a 6'3" 200 pound right hander from California.  He has had a rough start this year. He is 0-1 with a 5.05 ERA. Toronto expects this guy to be a force this year and came on pretty strong last year finishing 10-7 with 4.49 ERA.

Alexi Ogando takes the mound for Texas and this righty has been spectacular this season. He is 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA.  He is 6'4" and 195 pounds and hails from the Dominican Republic.  He has 14 strikeouts on the season. Ogando is really coming into his own as a pitcher and used to be a catcher until just last year. He was used as a bullpen guy a lot and has secured a starting spot this year. He features a fastball that tops 95 mph and changup in the mid 80's.

Texas is only favored -160 on the moneyline and we feel this is a bargain. We are taking Texas at home in mid day action with a powerful pitcher and better all around bats.


Team records:
Toronto: 11-13 SU
Texas: 15-9 SU

Toronto most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing NY Yankees are 4-6
After playing Texas are 5-5
After a loss are 4-6

Texas most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 2-8
Before playing Oakland are 6-4
After playing Toronto are 6-4
After a win are 5-5

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Texas
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing on the road against Texas
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Texas's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Texas's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas's last 5 games when playing at home against Toronto
Texas is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games at home

Next up:
Toronto at NY Yankees, Friday, April 29
Texas at Oakland, Friday, April 29