ALDS Doubleheader Betting Preview: Rangers at Blue Jays, Astros at Royals BY COVERS
Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays (-174, 8.0)
The Toronto Blue Jays did not fare well in their first two home playoff games in 22 years, but their success on the road is giving them another chance. The Blue Jays will have homefield advantage when they host the Texas Rangers in a decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday.
The Rangers went into Toronto and shocked the Blue Jays with wins in the first two games of the series but could not take care of business at home and now need to come up with a third win on the road. “Look, we're still playing, we're still playing. We've got another game to play,” Texas manager Jeff Banister told reporters. “… There's no quit in this ballclub. No quit in any one of those players in that locker room.” The Blue Jays’ surge over the last two games coincided directly with a return of the power that highlighted the offense during the regular season, beginning with Troy Tulowitzki’s key homer in Game 3 and continuing with three more blasts in Monday’s 8-4 triumph in Game 4. “You know, we've been good at home all year,” Toronto manager John Gibbons told reporters. “We didn't get those two games there, we didn't play particularly well necessarily, but that's where we're best.”
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Cole Hamels (0-0, 2.57 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marcus Stroman (0-0, 3.86)
Hamels was acquired at the trade deadline with the hope that he would pitch in some big moments for the team, and the former World Series MVP will get a second chance to earn his first postseason win for Texas. Hamels allowed four runs (two earned) over seven innings in Game 2 without factoring in the decision and has not lost since Aug. 7. The California native surrendered two or fewer earned runs in four of his last five starts going back to the regular season.
Game 1 starter David Price was forced into relief duty in Game 4 and threw 50 pitches, leaving Game 5 for Stroman to start. The 24-year-old went up against Hamels in Game 2 and was charged with four runs (three earned) and five hits in seven frames but was also held out of the decision in a game that lasted 14 innings. Stroman has yet to lose in 2015 and allowed six or fewer hits in each of his five starts since coming back from a knee injury.
TRENDS:
* Rangers are 11-0 in Hamels' last 11 starts.
* Blue Jays are 5-1 in Stroman's last six starts.
* Over is 7-0-1 in Hamels' last 11 starts overall.
* Over is 7-1-2 in Blue Jays last 10 games overall.
Houston Astros at Kansas City Royals (-138, 7.5)
The Houston Astros had the American League Division Series wrapped up before melting down late in Game 4 and now have to head back out on the road. The Kansas City Royals will try to carry over the momentum that saw them score seven runs in the final two innings on Monday when they host Wednesday’s decisive Game 5.
The Astros took a 6-2 lead into the eighth inning on Monday before an error by rookie shortstop Carlos Correa and a string of hits contributed to a five-run frame as the Royals took the lead. “The thing about this club is that they don't quit,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost told reporters. “They don't. And after giving up three runs there in the bottom of the seventh, they came in on fire. Again, like they do. ‘Come on, let's go, good at-bats, let's start it moving.’” Houston plans on having just about every pitcher available for Game 5 except for Game 4 starter Lance McCullers, and feels confident about its ability to bounce back. “We have just as good a chance to win Game 5 as the Royals,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch told reporters. “And we're going to hop on a plane, go work out (Tuesday), and we're going to show up ready to play in Game 5.”
TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Collin McHugh (1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. Royals RH Johnny Cueto (0-0, 6.00)
McHugh grabbed the win in Game 1 while allowing two runs and four hits in six innings. The 28-year-old yielded a pair of solo home runs to Kendrys Morales in the contest but had little trouble with the rest of the Kansas City lineup despite having to sit through a rain delay in the second inning that lasted nearly an hour. McHugh is 7-0 in his last eight starts and allowed two or fewer earned runs in five of those outings.
Cueto has not been everything for which the Royals hoped since being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds prior to the trade deadline and was reached for four runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings without factoring in the decision in Game 2. The Dominican Republic native and impending free agent allowed opponents a .307 batting average in 13 regular-season starts with Kansas City and put his team in an early hole in Game 2 by allowing all four runs in the first three innings. Cueto is 0-2 with a 5.52 ERA in four career postseason starts.
TRENDS:
* Astros are 4-0 in their last four games following a loss.
* Royals are 1-5 in their last six home games versus a right-handed starter.
* Under is 4-1 in the Astros last five road games.
* Over is 6-0 in Cueto's last six home starts.
