The Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians will close out a three-game American League series on Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field, with the first pitch scheduled 1:05 p.m. ET.
Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Rangers as -150 road favorites, while the total stands at 8.5, but is facing downward pressure in the market.
Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (4-0, 2.18 ERA) has led the club to victory in all five of his starts, including a 4-1 road win over the Toronto Blue Jays last time out. He’s 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three road outings this year.
The right-hander was recently named Major League Baseball’s Rookie of the Month for April earlier this week, as he’s allowed just three earned runs over his last 31 innings of work. He will be facing the Indians for the first time in his career.
Sports bettors will find that the Rangers are 19-7 in their last 26 games as a road favorite of -110 to -150, while “under” has cashed in their last five Sunday contests.
Ubaldo Jimenez (2-2, 5.02 ERA) will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak, as the Indians’ starter has allowed 11 runs (eight earned) and 14 hits over 10.2 innings over that span. He suffered a 7-2 setback on the road to the Chicago White Sox last time out.
The right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two home starts, as opposing hitters are hitting just .156 against him, but has struggled with his control in issuing six walks and striking out five in 13 frames.
Jimenez made his only career start against the Rangers after being acquired from the Colorado Rockies, not factoring in the decision of an 8-7 road loss on Aug. 5, giving up five runs and seven hits in five innings.
Weather forecasts suggest partly cloudy skies and game-time temperatures in the upper60s, with 10 mph winds out of the northeast (in from right).
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