Rangers Giants Betting – Pitching Carries Giants To First Title Since 1954
Sports betting players would have never thought of a Texas-San Francisco World Series betting matchup back in April, but here we are in the Fall Classic, and these two are set to duel after knocking out the favorites from their respective leagues. The Rangers have a number of nice stories on their team, but that won’t be enough to combat the Giants’ lights-out pitching.
- What: MLB Betting
- When: Game 1, Wednesday, October 27th, 7:57 PM ET
- Where: Gm. 1-2, 6-7, AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA; Gm. 3-5, the Ballpark, Arlington, TX
- Pick: San Francisco Giants
What’s On The Line
TheTexas Rangers upset the New York Yankees in six games, which would have been five if not for a Game 1 meltdown, but Texas handled the Yankees quite easily in the ALCS. The San Francisco Giants didn’t have as easy a time with the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS, upending them in six games as three of their wins were by a single run. In one of the most unlikely World Series ever, the Rangers are making their first appearance in the Fall Classic, while the Giants won their first National League pennant since 2002, and are looking for their first World Series win since 1954.
Offensive Matchups: Rangers Giants Betting
Texas scored at least five runs in each game of the ALCS, and Josh Hamilton was the ALCS MVP, hitting .350 with four homers and seven RBIs. Nelson Cruz and Bengie Molina added five RBIs for the Rangers, a team that was built on offense while the pitching came around. The Rangers can hit throughout the lineup and are always a danger to explode, and we don’t think they’ll be worried by the bright lights of the World Series. That being said, they’re going up against a great pitching staff in San Francisco.
The Giants aren’t a heavy-hitting team, but they have a knack for getting clutch base hits when they need to. Cody Ross was .350 with three homers and five RBIs in the NLCS, while Aubrey Huff, Pablo Sandoval and Juan Uribe had three RBIs apiece for the Rangers, who may have to depend heavily on Huff, Sandoval and Buster Posey to counter the power of the Rangers, because they’re at a disadvantage here.
Betting Edge: Rangers
Pitching Matchups: Rangers Giants Betting
The Rangers will kick off their World Series mission with Cliff Lee, who has been a monster in the playoffs with a 3-0 mark and a 0.75 ERA. Colby Lewis was almost as good, and he pitched a great game to eliminate the Yankees. The bullpen was great outside of the eighth inning in Game 1, and closer Neftali Feliz didn’t allow a run in the ALCS. The question is, can C.J. Wilson improve to be a solid No.3 starter after a sketchy postseason run so far?
San Francisco will counter with Tim Lincecum, who is 2-1 in the postseason with a 1.93 ERA, and he even pitched some relief in the Giants’ clinching game against the Phillies. Matt Cain hasn’t given up a run in his two starts, and Jonathan Sanchez has been solid with a 2.93 ERA. The bullpen has been spectacular, and the Giants have a trump card in Madison Bumgarner, who can come out of the bullpen or start. The Rangers have a good pitching staff, but the Giants have been one of the best all season long.
Betting Edge: Giants
Notable Injuries: Rangers Giants Betting
Both teams come into this World Series with a clean bill of health, which is great as neither team has an excuse for a poor performance in the Fall Classic.
Betting Edge: Draw
Outlook and Pick: Rangers Giants Betting
World Series betting odds have the Rangers as a -130 favorite in this matchup, but the Giants have won five straight over the Rangers since 2006, including a three-game sweep at home last year. They say defense wins championships, well, so does pitching and we’re taking the Giants in the upset here. Their rotation is a bit deeper, and the Rangers can’t start Lee every game, sadly. The Yankees’ pitching didn’t do nearly enough to challenge Texas, and you can bet that San Francisco will. We just don’t trust the Rangers’ pitching to hold up, and that’ll be the difference in an online betting win for San Francisco.
Dale’s Pick: San Francisco Giants
