The Cleveland Indians own a 4 1/2 game lead over Detroit in the American League Central, but they’ll be in tough on Saturday when the powerful Texas Rangers host them at Global Life Park in Arlington.
Carlos Carrasco and A.J. Griffin are slated to get the start. Carrasco (9-6, 3.12 ERA) has recorded eight or more strikeouts in each of his last four turns and has not issued a walk in the last three. The hurler owns a 1-2 record with one complete game and a 5.59 ERA in six career games against Texas.
Griffin (5-3, 4.68) suffered his second straight loss last Saturday, when he gave up three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings at Tampa Bay. The 28-year-old has made two career starts against Cleveland, going 0-1 with a 2.31 ERA.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The Texas Rangers were listed as 115 moneyline underdogs earlier in the day at Sportsbook, while odds makers set the Sportsbook total line around 9.5 earlier at Sportsbook.
Odds Shark computer prediction formulas pick a 3.8-3.5 win for the Indians on Saturday. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming MLB matchups here.
Cleveland Indians vs Texas Rangers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Texas Rangers bring a 75-54 record to the battle against the 73-54 Indians. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Texas vs Cleveland injuries news.
The Texas Rangers vs Cleveland Indians odds would favor the Rangers if the betting lines were set according to our power ranks. Texas is rated No. 15 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Cleveland is at No. 17.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Texas Rangers No. 11-rated offense, averaging 4.64 runs per game, against a Cleveland Indians defense that ranks No. 9 at 4.2 in runs allowed per game. The Texas Rangers have averaged 8.88 hits per game so far, less than Cleveland Indians batters have averaged on the year (9.13 hits per game).
Texas owns the No. 20 defense, allowing 4.64 men per game to cross the plate. That contrasts with Cleveland's No. 9-rated defense.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Cleveland ran up the score in their last game on Friday, jumping to a lead and resulting in a 12-1 victory against Texas.
Next Betting Matchups
Cleveland at Texas, Sunday, August 28th