Two teams heading in opposite directions will meet in Monday's
nationally televised ESPN matchup as the Baltimore Orioles look to extend their
four-game winning streak against the struggling Texas Rangers. The Orioles (41-34)
have also won seven of eight and are coming off a three-game sweep of the
Cleveland Indians over the weekend while the Rangers (38-38) fell for the
seventh time in eight games Sunday.
Baltimore moved into a tie for the lead in the American
League East with an 8-0 rout of the Indians on Sunday, as the Tampa Bay Rays
also lost 5-3 to the Boston Red Sox after previously sitting in sole possession
of first place. The Orioles are the defending AL East champions and finally
playing like it, averaging six runs per game during their winning streak and
outscoring opponents by a 24-9 margin. The UNDER has cashed in four of their
past five.
Meanwhile, Texas just suffered its third 3-2 loss in eight
games against the Toronto Blue Jays following their lone win during that
stretch on Saturday, 4-0. Before the last two in their most recent series at
Toronto, the Rangers had surrendered 34 runs in their previous four games
combined. The OVER was 3-0-1 in those games before the UNDER cashed in the past
two.
Monday's pitching matchup seems to favor the underdog on
paper, although oddsmakers opened Baltimore at -140 (bet $140 to win $100). The
Orioles send right-hander Bud Norris (2-6, 6.70 ERA) to the mound looking to earn
his first victory since June 7 at Cleveland. Norris has been a tough-luck loser
in each of his past two starts, allowing just two earned runs in 11.2 innings
on the road against the Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. The total went UNDER
in both of those games.
Click here
for latest MLB odds.
Texas lefty Wandy Rodriguez (4-3, 4.06) gets the call and is
listed as a small dog despite seeing his team win seven of his last eight
outings. Rodriguez is coming off his worst start of the season though, giving
up eight runs and 11 hits in four innings of an 8-2 home loss to the Oakland
Athletics last Wednesday. The OVER is 2-0 in his past two starts, but the UNDER
cashed in his previous five along with nine of 10.
Click here
for Monday's baseball picks from the Don Best handicappers.