The Texas Rangers are probably still going to make the playoffs and they do get respect in MLB odds but they received a serious reality check this week as they were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays. If you bet the Rays against the Rangers you made some nice money against the baseball odds.
MLB odds at the SBG sportsbook are starting to show the Rays some respect and there is a good reason why. Tampa is good! They are right with the Yankees for the best record in the American League. Tampa is coming off a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers. The matchup between the Rays and Rangers might have been a preview of the American League playoffs and if so, the Rangers have a ways to go.
Tampa Bay Impresses: The Rays were very impressive as they beat the Rangers in every way possible. They outpitched them, outhit them and put them in their place. The Rays beat the Rangers best pitcher in Cliff Lee and then they pounded them into submission in the third game of the series as they won 8-6. Evan Longoria got hot in the series for Tampa and on Wednesday he hit a solo homer and drove in four runs. He had three RBIs in Tuesday’s 10-1 win. He had seven hits, five for extra bases with eight RBIs during the sweep. Tampa has now won 19 of their last 24 games at home.
Texas needs to rebound: The Rangers seem to have hit the wall. They are 7-10 since July 30th. Josh Hamilton did nothing in the series going 1 for 10. The question for gamblers to answer is whether or not the Rangers will quickly rebound. They head to Baltimore for a four-game series and before you automatically think the Rangers will get well, remember that Baltimore is a much better team since Buck Showalter took over as manager.
What we’ve learned: If there were any questions about Tampa being a playoff team those questions should now be answered. The Rays are not going away. The only question left is whether or not they will win the American League East and relegate the Yankees to Wild Card status. We also learned that Texas needs to get healthy. They miss Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz and Michael Young. If the Rangers are to win in the playoffs they need those bats in the lineup.