MLB Preview for July 20, 2010: Texas Rangers @ Detroit Tigers

In MLB, the sports betting experts know that this is the time of the year when the star pitchers are put back into regular rotation, and teams begin to gear up for a playoff run. The Texas Rangers are in first place in the AL West and the Detroit Tigers are only one and a half games out of first place in the AL Central. Fans of both teams have spent more time NFL betting than they have spent betting on a pennant. But now that the final push is on, and both teams are in place to make a run, things are getting exciting in both towns.

NCAA football betting is extremely popular in Texas, and the Rangers are becoming popular as well. The Rangers are .500 in their last 10 games, but a couple of those wins are over the Boston Red Sox. The Rangers come into this series with a stellar 31-19 road record, but a suspect 22-20 road record. If you want to win a World Series, you have to win on the road. The Rangers were able to win in Boston, and now they want to continue that momentum into Detroit.

It has been a long time since MLB betting late in a season has included the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers won the World Series in 1984, made the playoffs in 1987 and again in 2006, but for all of those years in between there has been nothing to cheer about in the Motor City. Now, in 2010, the Tigers are in a fierce battle with the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins for the AL Central pennant. Right now, the White Sox lead by one and a half games. With the way things have gone in the AL Central all season, that situation could change by the end of the week.

Tommy Hunter starts this game for the Rangers, and he is having an excellent season. His record is 6-0 and his ERA is 2.39. He was just placed into the starting rotation recently, and he won his first six decisions. However, on the road in his career Hunter is 4-4 with a 5.90 ERA. Just like the rest of the Ranger team, Hunter has a hard time playing his best when he is away from his home field.

To the mound for the Tigers in this game is Armando Galarraga, who is still recovering from an early season injury. This will be Galarraga’s first start in the majors since a short stint in the minors on rehab. For the season, Galarraga is 3-2 with a 4.45 ERA. At home, Galarraga is 2-0. He is only 28 years old, and the Tigers are trying to be very careful with his rehabilitation in order to not shorten his MLB career.

With the Tigers being strong at home (32-13) and the Rangers being weak on the road (22-20), this game comes down to momentum. The Tigers have lost their last five games in a row, and that dropped them out of first place in the AL Central. They will be looking to regain their division lead with this home stand.

Baseball betting pick: Detroit Tigers 4-2

MLB Betting – Young Stars Face Off In Los Angeles

College football betting players will have their eyes on the top quarterback matchups of the season. In the major leagues, MLB betting players will have their eye on Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, when two of the best young pitchers in the National League go head-to-head when the Dodgers host San Francisco in a massive West division clash.

Giants Dodgers Betting – Tuesday, 10:10 PM ET

Tim Lincecum (10-4, 2.94) is coming off a complete-game six-hitter in a 2-0 win over the New York Mets at home in his first start after the All-Star break. Lincecum struck out five batters and walked one, and he’s still leading the National League in strikeouts, a category that he’s led in each of the last two seasons, although he’s still fifth in the league in walks. That’s like an NFL betting player watching his favorite quarterback throw a lot of touchdowns, but there’s always the risk of a three-interception game as well. “The Freak” shut the Dodgers out in a 9-0 romp in Los Angeles back in April, and now he’s 4-1 in eight career outings against the Dodgers, posting a 2.96 ERA.

Clayton Kershaw (9-5, 3.16) didn’t have his best stuff in a 7-1 loss at St. Louis, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits over 4.1 innings, walking three and striking out one. Like Lincecum, Kershaw ranks high in the strikeout category (sixth), as well as the walks category (fourth), and that’s something that has plagued him throughout his young career, while it’s new territory for Lincecum. The 22-year-old earned a no-decision in a 2-1 win over the Giants in that April series, and he’s still 0-0 in three games against the Dodgers’ division rivals.

MLB betting odds will be extremely close for this game, but they’ll probably be on the Dodgers’ side as the Giants have dropped four of their last five in Los Angeles. Lincecum is 4-1 on the road with a 2.75 ERA, while Kershaw is 5-2 at home with a 3.23 ERA. Kershaw will want to step up after he fell on his face in his last outing, a big matchup against St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter. Lincecum is a two-time defending Cy Young winner, but he kind of came out of nowhere, and Kershaw seems to be on the same track. People were asking what was wrong with Lincecum when he lost two starts in a row, and now he’s romped over his last two outings, which shows that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with him. This could be a rough night for the hitters at Dodger Stadium, but we’re banking on the home team to do just enough to back their young ace.

BSN sports pick: Los Angeles Dodgers