Cardinals vs Rangers Free Pick: MLB 2011 World Series Game 2

With a nail biting Game 1 of the 2011 MLB World Series in the books, today we move on to Game 2 between the Cardinals and Rangers. Both teams saw their bats go as cold as the game day temperature (49 degrees), as the Cardinals took a 3-2 decision in Game 1 of the series.

Game 2 of the MLB World Series baseball betting action is slated for Thursday, October 20, 2011, 8:05 PM ET from Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Rangers @ Cardinals: MLB WS Game 2 Pitching Preview

We didn’t get the hitting explosion we anticipated in Game 1 but that has more to do with the game time temperature than anything else. Make no mistake, they are called the Boys of Summer for a very good reason. Baseball was never meant to be played in near freezing weather.

That being said, both teams did get strong pitching during Game 1 last night. For Game 2 the Cardinals send LHP Jaime Garcia to the bump while the Rangers counter with RHP Colby Lewis.

Garcia went 9-4 (2.55 ERA) in his regular season starts at Busch Stadium but he has not been very good during the postseason. In 15.2 innings pitched, Garcia is 0-2 (5.74 ERA) with one no decision, as he has given up 10 runs on 19 hits.

Lewis has had two starts in the MLB 2011 postseason and owns 1-1 record. He beat Tampa Bay in Game 3 of the ALDS but lost to the Tigers in Game 3 of the ALCS. Lewis has given up 5 runs, on 9 hits, during 11.2 innings of 2011 postseason work.

Texas is  6-1 in their last seven games against left handed pitching. St. Louis is 6-1 against right handed pitching over their last seven contests.

Playoff Baseball Betting Lines: Cardinals vs. Rangers Free Pick

Wow, what a difference a day makes! The tables have certainly turned as the Rangers are the favorites for Game 2 of the 2011 World Series. Last night the online books were offering the Rangers as the underdog at +1.5 runs (-190), tonight they are -1.5 run chalk.

With another chilly evening on tap tonight, we wonder if the hitters will adjust to the conditions. The players must be looking forward to the trip to Texas – where the game time temperatures will be close to 80 degrees.

While we don’t expect a huge uptick in scoring, we don’t see another 3-2 contest tonight. Last night’s pitchers were the respective aces of their teams staff – there is a slight drop off in talent on the hill tonight.

Our research points to the Rangers winning this contest tonight. Whether we trust them on the Run Line, or straight up on the Money Line, is the only question we have wrestled with. We aren’t going to get greedy (though we want to) so we’ll roll with the Rangers straight up in this one.

>>> Take TEX over STL at -120 on the TopBet Money Line <<<