Take #926 Texas Rangers over Baltimore Orioles
(MLB) Baltimore vs. Texas,
Money Line: -134.00 Texas (Home)
Result: Win
The Baltimore Orioles won an American League-best 101 games in the regular season, but the postseason has been troublesome. The Orioles will aim to avoid being swept in the AL Division Series on Tuesday night when they battle the streaking Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the best-of-five series in Arlington, Texas. It will be the first home game of the playoffs for Texas, which is 4-0 on the road, including 3-2 and 11-8 victories in Baltimore. Nobody needs to inform Orioles manager Brandon Hyde that his club faces a tough predicament. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 1.35 ERA) will start Game 3 for the Rangers. Eovaldi allowed 12 runs in 8 1/3 innings while splitting his final two regular-season starts but bounced back in the clinching Game 2 of the AL wild-card series against the Rays. He struck out eight without a walk and allowed one run and six hits over 6 2/3 innings. Right-hander Dean Kremer (13-5, 4.12 ERA regular season) gets the ball for the Orioles. He's ready to fight off butterflies over the biggest start of his life. Kremer last pitched on Sept. 28 when he blanked the Boston Red Sox on two hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 2-0 victory. Kremer, 27, lost to Texas on May 27 when he gave up three runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings. Overall, he's 0-1 with a 5.17 ERA in three career starts versus the Rangers. We think his struggles continue, and Eovaldi does well here, and the Rangers get the unexpected sweep of the inexperienced young Baltimore Orioles.