Chris Hodge, Free Picks Newsletter Editor
251-150-3 of last 404
MLB: Detroit Tigers (+135) vs. Texas Rangers (-145); Over/Under (O/U 9u -115)

We may be seeing the birth of Señor October with Nelson Cruz.

Last season, Cruz hit six post-season homers for the Rangers. So far this post season, he’s hit five – all five against the Tigers.

The Texas Rangers are one win away from their second consecutive trip to the World Series, and it is looking like Game 6 will bea great opportunity to punch that ticket. Though it won’t be easy, because they’ll have to get through Max Scherzer who has looked good in two post-season outings. There is also some concern over Derek Holland, who walked four batters in fewer than three innings in his last outing.

But it’s hard to go against a team that has scored 79 runs over their past 15 games, including 40 runs through nine playoff games. Five runs per night is tough to overcome, as the Tigers are learning.

Interestingly enough, both Scherzer and Tigers Manager Jim Leyland, are both claiming they will go straight after Cruz again tonight. They have no plans of trying to pitch around him, despite his super-hot bat.

We’ll have to see if this holds true, and then we’ll see how long. They may have a quick change of mind if he sends the first pitch he sees to the wall. He has taken Scherzer deep before, so it wouldn’t be anything new.

Aside from Cruz, the Texas offense is just popping. I also doubt they’ll leave Holland in the game long if it looks like he’s going to have difficulty finding the strike zone again.

So when it comes right down to it, the Rangers do have a tough obstacle to overcome to end this thing, but the Detroit Tigers have an even bigger one.

The money is a little steep, but the line on the over/under is leaning at -115 to the underside of nine. I think this one hits double digits on the total.

Pick: Take over on nine.