History against Rangers?
Betting tips 
/ Ed Wyatt / 28 October 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market
I've backed Texas throughout the post-season, and it makes no sense to abandon them now.
It's only fitting that the 2011 World Series goes to a seventh and deciding game, because for Ed Wyatt and for all MLB fans, it's been as exciting and unpredictable as any series in recent memory.
Well, here we go.
St. Louis pulled off a near-miracle in Game Six, coming from behind five different times and beating Texas 10-9 in the bottom of the 11th on a solo home run by David Freese. Twice the Rangers were one strike away from a first-ever World Series title, but each time their pitching could not stop the red-hot Cardinals.
And now, Texas is looking at a Game Seven - the first World Series to go the distance since 2002 - and the bad news is that history is against them. Of the last 13 teams that won a Game Six in the post-season (to force a Game Seven) 12 of them have gone on to win that Game Seven.
In addition, you also have to think the momentum is with this Cardinals team. They battled just to get into the playoffs, then knocked off Philadelphia and Milwaukee, and had their backs against the wall in this one.
So on to Game Seven.
Rangers' manager Ron Washington is sticking with his planned rotation and starting Matt Harrison, who lost Game Three. He only lasted 3 2/3 innings in that one, giving up five runs on six hits, but on the flip-side, he hasn't lost back-to-back starts since June.
St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa was taking his time in deciding between Edwin Jackson, who lost Game Four, and staff ace Chris Carpenter, who won Game One and started Game Five. Carpenter says he's ready to go, and although he's only pitched once before on three days rest in his entire career, my gut feeling is that he'll get the ball.
We thought the bullpens might be rested with the added day off (from the rain postponement of Game Six), but the extra innings pretty much cancelled that out. Texas used eight pitchers in Game Six, while St. Louis used seven, and that means both managers will have to improvise. In 2001, Arizona starter Randy Johnson came out of the bullpen on zero days rest to help beat the Yankees in Game Seven.
Bottom line?
It's Game Seven.
Anything can, and probably will, happen.
I've backed Texas throughout the post-season, and it makes no sense to abandon them now. If the Rangers can catch a couple of breaks, and their big bats can get to Carpenter - who's in uncharted territory - than they might be a chance.
Back Texas at $2.28 or better.
