Sportsbook MLB Game of Day
NEW YORK YANKEES (9-6) at TEXAS RANGERS (13-3)
Sportsbook Line & Total: Texas -113 & 9.5 under -115
Two red-hot teams begin a three-game set in Arlington when the Yankees visit the Rangers.
New York has scored 28 runs during a three-game win streak, while Texas is 13-3 on the year, including 9-1 in its past 10 games. These are the two highest-scoring teams in baseball with the Yankees scoring 6.0 runs per game (27 HR) and the Rangers not far behind at 5.9 runs and 26 bombs. However, New York definitely has the edge in this southpaw pitching matchup with CC Sabathia taking on Derek Holland. Sabathia is 11-3 (team is 14-5) in 19 career starts against Texas, while Holland is 0-4 with an 8.77 ERA and 1.99 WHIP over five career starts versus the Bombers. The Yankees also dominated this series last year, winning seven of the nine meetings and outscoring the Rangers 62-35 and out-homering them 22-4.
Sabathia (1-0, 5.59 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) hasn’t pitched as bad as his ERA would indicate, posting a 1.13 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and just three walks in his 13.1 innings over his past two starts. After allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings at Baltimore, he was much more effective his last outing, holding the Twins to three runs and four hits in 7.1 innings, fanning seven and walking one.
Although his career numbers versus Texas aren’t stellar (4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP), he has handled many of the team’s biggest bats with relative ease. Current AL home-run leader Josh Hamilton is 1-for-13 with 5 K off Sabathia, while Nelson Cruz is 0-for-11 with seven whiffs, Ian Kinsler is 3-for-19 (.158) and Adrian Beltre is 7-for-30 (.233). Beltre will likely sit this game out though after hurting his left hamstring on Saturday. The Yankees have won six straight meetings with the Rangers (including playoffs) with Sabathia on the hill. Since the start of 2010, the Yankees are 25-13 (.658) when Sabathia is their starting pitcher.
Holland (2-0, 3.10 ERA, 0.89 WHIP) is off to a flying start to the 2012 season with three quality outings in three tries. In the past two starts (versus Seattle and at Boston), Holland has allowed just four runs in 14.1 innings (2.51 ERA), fanning 15 and walking only three.
But facing the Yankees has been quite a chore for Holland in his brief career. In five starts, he has allowed at least four runs and nine base-runners in each of those outings. In three starts last year, Holland lasted only 15.2 innings, surrendering 15 runs, 19 hits (4 HR) and 12 walks, while fanning just nine. Current Yankees are batting .341 with a .425 OBP and .593 SLG (1.018 OPS) against Holland in their careers, highlighted by Mark Teixeira, who is 7-for-15 with 3 HR and 8 RBI against Holland. Teixeira hit two homers with 6 RBI in his team’s last game on Saturday, when the Yankees erased a 9-0 deficit to beat rival Boston 15-9. Holland has also struggled to get out three Yankees with high OPS marks against him -- Robinson Cano (1.067 OPS), Derek Jeter (1.045 OPS) and Nick Swisher (.967 OPS).
