This is a 10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the UNDER Yanks/Rangers.

The Yanks have seen the total go OVER in four straight. That includes a 10-6 loss at Baltimore yesterday afternoon.

With its ace on the mound to open this one though, I'm expecting much more of a "duel" in the opener of this series.

Gerrit Cole is 5-1 and he most recently went eight shutout frames vs. the Rays on Wednesday. Note that it was his fifth start already this season that he most ten K's with zero walks. He has 78 K's over 52.2 innings, to go along with a tiny 0.68 WHIP.

The Rangers have seen the total go OVER in three straight. Texas has now lost six in a row. Starting pitcher Jordan Lyles is just 1-3 with a 6.63 ERA. Clearly this is a tough spot for Lyles, but note that the Rangers have seen the total go UNDER the number in eight of their last 11 after playing to three or more straight OVERS in a row.

New York is only conceding 2.25 RPG on the road in Cole's starts, while the Rangers average just 3.84 RPG on average at home.

I expect a tight, but ultimately lower-scoring UNDER in this one.

Good luck, NP