The Tampa Bay Rays have roared out of the gate with a 13-0 start that is tied with the 1982 Atlanta Braves and the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers for the best starts to any season in Major League Baseball since 1900. The all-time record dates back to 1884, when the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association 20-0. The Rays aren’t just winning; they are dominating games, with a +71 run differential through those 13 games. They lead MLB in runs scored (101) and in fewest runs permitted (30). Their most recent win, on Thursday, came in 9-3 fashion over the visiting Boston Red Sox. Can the Rays keep things going as they head to Canada? We’ll check in on that game, as well as the Texas Rangers’ visit to Houston, in our MLB betting preview for the weekend.
MLB Top Betting Games in Week 2 for the Weekend | MLB Lines
Texas Rangers at Houston Astros
Projected Pitching Matchup: Martin Perez (1-1, 2.53 ERA) (TEX) vs Luis Garcia (0-1, 7.00 ERA) (HOU)
Friday, April 14 – 8:10 pm ET | Martin Perez started the season strong, throwing 5 ⅔ innings of one-run ball against Philadelphia, scattering eight hits and three walks while striking out seven. He pitched reasonably well in Chicago on Saturday, throwing five innings and permitting three runs (two earned) on five hits, including a home run, while striking out five without issuing a single walk. Perez has shown that he can keep the ball down and pound the strike zone, key qualities against a team with as hot an offense as Houston.
Luis Garcia has been hit hard in both of his starts this season. His first start lasted five innings, and he permitted three runs on seven hits, including a home run. He struck out four and walked two in a 6-3 loss to the White Sox. On Saturday, the Twins touched him up for four runs on six hits, including a home run, as he struck out four and walked three in just four innings of a 9-6 loss. If he can’t limit the Ranger bats more, this could be another high-scoring Astros loss. Rangers to win.
Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays
Josh Fleming (0-0, 6.43 ERA) (TB) vs Yusei Kikuchi (1-0, 6.75 ERA) (TOR)
Saturday, April 15 – 3:07 pm ET | Josh Fleming had an extremely rough start to the year, as the Washington Nationals torched him for five runs on ten hits over three innings, as he struck out two and walked one. His second appearance came in long relief on Monday, as he held the Boston Red Sox scoreless over four innings, permitting just one hit while striking out five and walking none. If he can show that kind of stuff again, the Rays should be just fine.
Yusei Kikuchi is another pitcher who has had one solid outing and one dumpster fire so far in 2023. He opened with five innings of three-hit, one-run ball in a 4-1 win over Kansas City. On Sunday, though, he gave up three home runs among nine hits, permitting six runs in 4 ⅓ innings of a game that the Blue Jays would end up losing, 12-11, in ten innings. He did strike out six and walk just one, but he found way too much of the plate in that outing. Rays to win.
Red Sox vs. Rays Game Highlights (4/13/23)
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