Tuesday, June 30

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

Tampa Bay (43-35) at Toronto (41-37)

The surging Rays send right-hander Matt Garza (5-5, 3.61 ERA) to the mound at Rogers Centre for the second game of their series with the division rival Blue Jays, who will counter with righty Scott Richmond (6-4, 3.68).

Tampa Bay posted a 4-1 victory in Monday night’s opener, with Carl Crawford welcoming Toronto starter Roy Halladay back from the DL with a two-run homer in the third inning. The Rays have won eight of their last nine games, including the last six in a row, and are on a 20-8 run overall. However, Tampa is still just 5-10 in its last 15 road games.

Toronto is on a 16-8 run at home against teams with a losing road record, but the Jays have won just two of their last 12 division contests.

This is the first series of the year between these rivals. Last year, Tampa Bay went 11-7 against Toronto, though the Jays earned a three-game home sweep in their final meeting in early September.

Tampa has lost four of its last six with Garza on the hill, but the 25-year-old was sharp last Wednesday against the World Series champion Phillies in a 7-1 home victory. Garza allowed just one run on three hits and three walks, with seven strikeouts, in eight innings. Garza is 3-3 with a solid 1.99 ERA in six career starts against Toronto, but he’s 1-3 with a 4.29 ERA in six road starts this season, and the Rays have lost in his last five outings on the highway.

Toronto has won eight of 12 games this year with Richmond starting, and the 29-year-old is coming off a good effort at home against Cincinnati last Wednesday. Richmond allowed two runs on two hits and two walks in seven innings of an 8-2 victory. Richmond is 3-2 with a 3.92 ERA in eight appearances (six starts) at home this year, and he is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in his lone career appearance against Tampa, allowing all three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 3-2 home loss last July.

The under for Tampa Bay is on rolls of 5-1 on the road, 14-5-1 against right-handers, 6-0 overall with Garza starting and 6-0 in Garza’s last six starts on the highway. Likewise, the under for Toronto is on streaks of 7-2-1 against winning teams, 11-4 in division play, 8-2 behind Richmond at Rogers Centre and 4-1 with Richmond facing A.L. East foes.

Finally, in this rivalry, the under has hit in 24 of the last 34 clashes and is on further runs of 15-6 in Toronto and 4-1 with Garza starting against the Jays.

ATS ADVANTAGE: TORONTO and UNDER

L.A. Angels (42-32) at Texas (40-35)

The Angels look to keep their grip on first place in the A.L. West when they trot out left-hander Joe Saunders (8-4, 3.66 ERA) to face right-hander Scott Feldman (5-2, 4.06) and the rival Rangers in Game 2 of their series at the Ballpark in Arlington.

Los Angeles earned a 5-2 win Monday in the series opener, on the strength of a four-run sixth inning and a solid six innings from rookie starter Sean O’Sullivan, who allowed two runs (both on solo homers) on six hits and two walks, with five strikeouts. The Halos have won six in row and 13 of their last 16 games, and they are on a 7-0 run on the road.

Texas is 3-8 in its last 11 outings, which helped Los Angeles overtake the Rangers for the division lead. Texas is in an 0-6 rut against winning teams, but the Rangers carry positive streaks of 17-5 in division contests and 8-3 at home against southpaws.

The Rangers are still on a 5-2 run in this rivalry, including a three-game sweep at home in mid-May in the only other series this year between the two teams. The Angels have lost in Saunders’ last four road starts against Texas.

Los Angeles has won three in a row behind Saunders, after dropping his previous three starts. Last Wednesday in an 11-3 home win over Colorado, he allowed just one run (a solo homer) on four hits and a walk in six innings, with six strikeouts. Saunders is 4-2 with a 4.57 ERA in seven road starts this year, with one of those losses coming at Texas, where he got shelled for seven runs on eight hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings of a 10-8 loss on May 15.

Saunders is 3-4 with a 5.48 ERA in eight career starts against the Rangers. On the positive side, with Saunders starting, L.A. is on runs of 54-24 overall, 7-1 in division play, 8-3 on the road and 23-10 against winning teams.

Texas had lost three in row backing Feldman before coming up with a 9-8 win at Arizona last Thursday, with the righty allowing three runs on four hits and a walk in six innings. Feldman is 1-1 with a 3.83 ERA in eight appearances (six starts) at home this year, and he’s 1-3 with a 5.35 ERA in 14 appearances (five starts) against Los Angeles. On May 17, he threw six shutout innings in a 3-0 home win over the Angels but got a no-decision.

The Rangers are 8-3 in Feldman’s last 11 starts, but they are on slides behind Feldman of 4-12 at home and 3-8 against winning teams.

The over for Los Angeles is on streaks of 11-6-1 overall, 5-0 with Saunders taking the ball and 6-2 with Saunders facing the Rangers. On the flip side, the under for Texas is on rolls of 44-17-1 overall, 5-0 at home against lefties, 6-1 in the A.L. West, 24-6-1 at home, 27-11 with Feldman starting and 7-0 behind Feldman in Arlington.

Finally, in this rivalry, the under has hit in five of the last six meetings in Texas.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

Al DeMarco, General Manager of PickNation.com and the featured handicapping analyst on SportsNet New York’s Daily News Live, is a 25-year veteran of the handicapping industry. Read his Daily Blog for his gambling insight, tips and observations at PickNation.com