Free Daily Lock Pick: MLB: Tampa Bay vs. Minnesota – September 12th – (100% Confidence Release)
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This series is massive for the AL playoff picture, as the Texas Rangers (79-64; before Tuesday's game) and Toronto Blue Jays (80-64) are two of the three teams on the fringe of the wild-card race. The four-game set got started on Monday with a Rangers win. One more would give them at least four against the Blue Jays this season, securing the head-to-head tiebreaker. With MLB's new rules, that could be the difference between a playoff spot or not, since they eliminated any game 163 scenarios. Wednesday at 7:07 p.m. EDT, these teams will collide for the sixth time. Let's look at what should happen in Rogers Centre when these clubs collide again.
*Published before Tuesday's game
Texas hit a major lull to begin September, a major reason why their once-safe AL West lead quickly crumbled. However, after a third straight win on Monday, they're back in a wild-card spot. Along with that, the Rangers only trail the Astros by 2.0 games for the division still. Texas isn't dead quite yet, even if momentum is eluding them.
Success has hit the Arlington ballclub through an elite offense this season. After Monday's series opener, the Rangers were third among MLB teams in runs per game. Texas is also a top-three team in batting average, OBP, slugging percentage, and hard-hit rate. They draw a lot of walks, ranking fifth in walk rate, while also having 202 homers (7th) after Jonah Heim's game-breaking grand slam on Monday. Although they aren't stealing a ton of bases, the Rangers are suc cessful 81% of the time. Scoring is far from this team's issue.
On the other hand, the pitching staff has been brutal in September. They left Monday's game with a 7.02 team ERA through the club's first 10 matchups of the month. The Rangers' relievers have been especially brutal lately, with the team's bullpen now ranking 25th or worse in ERA, FIP, and WAR. Trading for starters and relievers at the deadline has been a mixed bag so far, such as lefty Jordan Montgomery who has started four consecutive losses. The long-time AL East starter gets to face Toronto for the second time this season. In the first, Montgomery allowed three runs across 5.0 innings in a winning effort. The Rangers will want more of that and less of the 14 runs he's allowed over his past 14.2 innings pitched. That will be the key to victory in this one.
Free Daily Lock Pick: MLB: Tampa Bay vs. Minnesota – September 12th – (100% Confidence Release) Click to see the pick now