Baseball futures on Sunday feature the battle of Texas as the Rangers host the Houston Astros.
The Rangers have been one of the hottest teams in baseball betting in the past couple of weeks and they are favored at home even though Roy Oswalt is expected to start for Houston.
Baseball futures don’t favor the Astros very often but they still get respect when Oswalt is on the mound. He is 5-9 on the season but his ERA is 3.08. He is expected to be opposed by Tommy Hunter in this finale of a three-game series. It is the last game of a six-game home stand for the Rangers.
Oswalt has not had a lot of luck lately as his team simply doesn’t score him many runs. He has had to face San Francisco and Tim Lincecum three times and that hasn’t gone well even though he has pitched well. Oswalt has 13 quality starts and has gone seven inning or more in four straight starts. In June his ERA is 2.25 yet he has very little to show for it.
Texas has won all four of Tommy Hunter’s starts since he returned from the Minor Leagues. He held the Pirates to three runs in six innings last time out. He is 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in three starts at home.
Before this series began the Rangers had won eight of the last ten against the Astros. The teams met in Houston earlier this month and the Rangers won all three games. Last season the Rangers took two of three in Texas against the Astros in baseball betting.
There is not much to like about the Astros in baseball futures. Their best pitcher is Oswalt and they can’t even win for him. Houston hasn’t been able to win consistently at home or on the road. Their hitting is awful and other than Oswalt, their pitching is not much better.
Texas has been excellent in baseball futures for much of the season. This home stand has been very good and Texas has pulled out to a nice lead in the American League West. The Rangers have an offense that is third in the league in runs scored. Josh Hamilton has been red-hot of late and the Rangers are riding his bat to victories. Texas is even getting some pitching as they are just outside the top ten in ERA.