Rangers vs. Cards Game 2 Free Pick
(The Spread) – The Rangers need to earn a split tonight in Game 2 of the 2011 World Series if they don’t want to fall in a 2-0 hole against the Cardinals.
TEXAS: The Rangers have been here before, down 1-0 on the road in the Fall Classic. They faced a similar situation last year against the San Francisco Giants and wound up losing Game 2 before finally winning Game 3 back in Texas. But they eventually went on to lose the 2010 World Series in five games so they understand how important tonight’s game is. They’ll hand the ball to Colby Lewis tonight in hopes of earning a split before the series shifts to their home park.
ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals must feel like they’re playing with house money. Two months ago they were left for dead when they were sitting 10.5 games back of Atlanta in the Wild Card standings. But thanks to great play down the stretch coupled with the Braves’ utter choke job, St. Louis is now three wins away from winning the World Series. They’ll turn to Jaime Garcia tonight, a starter who is still searching for his first-ever postseason win. He’s 0-2 in the playoffs this year with one no decision but he usually pitches well at home.
View Current World Series Odds
ODDS: Oddsmakers have installed the visiting Rangers as –118 money line favorites over the host Cardinals, who are +111 for tonight’s Game 2 matchup. The over/under total for this contest is currently sitting at 8 runs.
FREE PICK: Oddsmakers could very well be playing into the public’s perception that Texas is the better time and therefore, should be favored. But I think it’s much more than that. The Rangers know that their backs are already up against the wall and they saw what happened last year when they fell behind 2-0 to the Giants. I think the Rangers bounce back tonight against a starter in Garcia who has had his troubles over the last couple of weeks. But the key for Texas is for Josh Hamilton and Co. to hop on Garcia early, because once Tony La Russa goes to his excellent bullpen, the Cards are extremely tough to beat. According to latest MLB trends, the Rangers are 4-0 in their last four playoff games as a favorite and 24-6 in their last 30 games as a favorite of –110 to –150.
2011 WORLD SERIES GAME 2 FREE PICK: TEXAS RANGERS –118
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