MLB Betting: Rangers primed to make rare escape from AL West

MLB / Nick Shiambouros / 04 August 2010 / Leave a Comment

John Hamilton is heading for a banner year

"Manager Ron Washington has done an excellent job keeping this team focused. His close relationship with his players has played a big part in the teams success. But with all the uncertainty hanging over the team, it has to be asked whether they can hang in there until season's end. I think the answer is that they can and will be backing them to do so."

Against the odds, Texas are flying high in AL West and can be backed in single figures in the World Series betting - is that justified, asks Nick Shiambouros

The Texas Rangers are having a fantastic season. With a record of 61-44 they find themselves eight games ahead of the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.

At the beginning of the year not many people would have expected this team to be leading the division in August.

The Rangers are one of the least successful teams in baseball. They are only one of three franchises to have never played in a World Series. In fact they have only made the playoffs three times since they were founded in 1961.
　
After a disastrous season in 2000 they signed Alex Rodriguez on a ten year deal worth an incredible $252m. They traded Rodriguez in 2007 to the Yankees due to financial difficulties.

Amazingly, the Rangers are still having financial problems and filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. The team is due to be sold at public auction today (August 4).

Manager Ron Washington has done an excellent job keeping this team focused. His close relationship with his players has played a big part in the teams success. But with all the uncertainty hanging over the team, it has to be asked whether they can hang in there until season's end. I think the answer is that they can and will be backing them to do so.

The Rangers have an outstanding offence led by Josh Hamilton. He is averaging .362 and has launched 23 home runs this year. Hamilton is on course to be the league MPV.

Outfielder Nelson Cruz is another slugger who is having a great year. Cruz is averaging .324 and recently had a 17-game hitting streak.

And the Rangers can bat all the way down to the last man. They boast an impressive .275 average as a team.

The addition of Cliff Lee to the pitching rotation earlier this year will help this team enormously. He is one of the elite pitchers in the league and is a former Cy Young winner.
　
I believe this team will win the AL West. They show no signs of letting up and will be very difficult to catch especially given their strong home record of 36-21.

This month the Rangers play host to the New York Yankees and the .Boston Red Sox and there will be plenty of value to be had backing them against these two high-profile teams.

In the middle of August the Rangers visit the Baltimore Orioles for a four game series. The Orioles are having a dreadful season and are bottom of the tough AL East. They have the worst record in the league and are in a complete shambles. I will be very surprised if Texas does not win at least three games in this series.
　
Texas are currently priced at [9.0] to win the World Series. If they win the AL West that price will almost certainly shrink.
　
The Rangers have all the momentum heading in to the final third of the season. They have developed an explosive offence which has served them well throughout the year and they should - at the very least - enjoy their fourth ever experience of the playoffs.
　
Recommended wagers:
Back Texas v New York Yankees on August 10, 11
Back Texas v Boston on August 13, 14,15
Back Texas v Baltimore on August 19, 20, 21, 22