PREMIUM
MLB *AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE*
(MLB) Toronto vs. Texas,
Point Spread: 1.50 | -155.00 Toronto (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 1.50 | -155.00 Toronto (Away)
Result: Win
MLB *AFTERNOON APOCALYPSE*
Play: Toronto Blue Jays +1.5
Rating: 8*
The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a dramatic extra innings win against the Orioles in the AL Wild Card game. I like them to ride that momentum and at the very least cover the runline here in the ALDS opener against the Texas Rangers.
Marco Estrada (9-9, 3.48 ERA) will take the ball for Toronto, and he's coming into the game red hot. He's allowed just a pair of runs on nine hits through 19 innings of work in his last three starts, and he's held the Rangers to five earned runs with a .159 batting average against in 12 frames this season.
The Rangers turn to their ace Cole Hamels (15-5, 3.32 ERA), but Toronto is 9-2 in its last 11 games vs. a left-handed starter and Hamels has been far from at his best lately. The 32 year old was reached for five runs (three earned) on eight hits in seven innings by the Brew Crew his last time out, and he's conceded five or more runs in four of his last six starts.
Blue Jays are 11-4 in the last 15 meetings in Texas and 7-3 in the last 10 meetings. They prevailed in a testy five-game ALDS against the Rangers last year by winning the last three games, but I don't think they'll need to come back from a 2-0 hole this time around.
Play: Toronto Blue Jays +1.5
Rating: 8*
The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a dramatic extra innings win against the Orioles in the AL Wild Card game. I like them to ride that momentum and at the very least cover the runline here in the ALDS opener against the Texas Rangers.
Marco Estrada (9-9, 3.48 ERA) will take the ball for Toronto, and he's coming into the game red hot. He's allowed just a pair of runs on nine hits through 19 innings of work in his last three starts, and he's held the Rangers to five earned runs with a .159 batting average against in 12 frames this season.
The Rangers turn to their ace Cole Hamels (15-5, 3.32 ERA), but Toronto is 9-2 in its last 11 games vs. a left-handed starter and Hamels has been far from at his best lately. The 32 year old was reached for five runs (three earned) on eight hits in seven innings by the Brew Crew his last time out, and he's conceded five or more runs in four of his last six starts.
Blue Jays are 11-4 in the last 15 meetings in Texas and 7-3 in the last 10 meetings. They prevailed in a testy five-game ALDS against the Rangers last year by winning the last three games, but I don't think they'll need to come back from a 2-0 hole this time around.
