MLB Baseball

Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels

10:05 pm Eastern

ESPN 2

SBG Global Opening Line: Los Angeles -140, Total 8.5 over -115

An interesting opener in Major League Baseball takes place tonight on ESPN 2 as the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels match-up in Anaheim.  Sammy Sosa is back in baseball with the Rangers and will try and reach the 600 home run mark this season.  The Angels will have Gary Matthews Jr. in the lineup facing his old team. With Sammy back in uniform, SBG Global reports that most early money is on the underdog Rangers.

“I'm ready,” said Sosa, “I had a good spring training, the whole thing. Coming back now to the season, I know I'm ready to go for it. It's opening day, everybody is excited, just want to have an opportunity to go out there and play. It's one thing I've been working for, and we'll be there Monday.”  Sosa did not play last year and wasn’t that good in 2005 with Baltimore hitting .221 with only 14 home runs and 45 RBI’s.  Sosa is expected to hit fifth in the Rangers lineup.

Los Angeles is a -138 favorite with a total of 8.5 over -115 at SBG Global.

Matthews Jr. is coming off a career year where he hit .313, with 19 homers and 79 RBIs. The Angels overpaid to sign him in the off-season for a staggering five-years and $50 million.  It is unlikely he will be worth that money but the Angels are hoping he can add to their lineup.

The Angels had an 89-73 record last year and finished second behind the Athletics in the American League West. Texas was third at 80-82.  The Angels should have a strong starting staff when it gets healthy. Bartolo Colon and Jered Weaver have been hurt. One pitcher that is healthy is going tonight and that is John Lackey who was 13-11 with a 3.56 ERA last season.  Lackey usually pitches well but as his record indicates, has a lot of tough luck. He will be opposed by Kevin Millwood who was 16-12 with a 4.52 ERA last season.

The Rangers are 2-5 in their last 7 games as an underdog. The Rangers are 2-6 in their last 8 vs. the American League West. The Rangers are 2-6 in their last 8 games on Grass. The Rangers are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Rangers are 6-2 in Millwood's last 8 starts as a road underdog. The Rangers are 11-25 in the last 36 meetings between the two teams and they are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.

The Angels are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a favorite. The Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. the American League West. The Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 games on Grass. The Angels are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Angels are 20-8 in their last 28 home games. The Angels are 4-1 in Lackey's last 5 home starts.

The Under is 13-6-2 in the Rangers last 21 vs. the American League West. The Under is 6-2 in Millwood's last 8 starts as an underdog. The Under is 15-4 in the Angels last 19 games as a favorite. The Under is 7-2 in the Angels last 9 games as a home favorite. The Under is 14-6-1 in the Angels last 21 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 37-18 in Lackey's last 55 starts as a home favorite. The Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Los Angeles between the two teams. The Over is 7-2 in Lackey's last 9 starts vs. the Rangers.

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