Bet Baseball – Texas Rangers vs. Boston Red Sox

The defending American League champions, coming off the best season in the team’s history, will defend their pennant in Opening Day betting action today against the early American League favorites.  The Texas Rangers will welcome the Boston Red Sox to Arlington, Texas, to begin regular season play and the battle for the American League pennant.

Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers

Rangers Ballpark, Arlington, Texas

Friday, April 1 at 4:05 PM ET

TV: ESPN, FSN

Bet Baseball Odds

Boston -1.5         +135

Texas +1.5           -155

Total Runs:          8.5

After a dismal 2010 season, Boston made plenty of adjustments in the offseason, added new power hitters, and is ready to make a statement in the American League this year.  The Red Sox will show off their new acquisitions in Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez behind the arm of lefty Jon Lester.  Lester almost achieved a 20-win season in 2010, finishing 19-9 with an ERA of 3.25. 

After losing the World Series to the San Francisco Giants, the Rangers didn’t make any great improvements during the offseason.  Losing star ace Cliff Lee, in addition to Vladimir Guerrero and Bengie Molina, leaves the Rangers with a question mark on which player will be able to lead the team in 2011.

The one significant addition to Texas is third baseman Adrian Beltre, a former Red Sox slugger who the Rangers hope can make a consistent contribution to the team’s strong offense, led by the bats of Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, and Nelson Cruz.

Southpaw CJ Wilson will take the mound to open the season.  Wilson pitched solid throughout the postseason, quieting many doubters that his pitching remains sound even under pressure.  Wilson finished last season 15-8 with a 3.35 ERA.

Although Wilson is strong and will lead the Rangers to many season wins, baseball betting fans have to note that the Red Sox have won in 70 of Lester’s previous 99 starts.  Such an awesome baseball trend is impossible to overlook, especially on Opening Day.

Both teams boast of excessively strong lineups with plenty of batting power.  As the pitchers find their groove in this first game of the season, count on the bats to click.  These two clubs can easily combine for over 8.5 runs today.

Bet Baseball Free Pick – Back Boston -1.5 and the Over!