The Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers will play in the best of seven American League Championship Series beginning Saturday in Texas. Oddsmakers have installed the Rangers as slight favorites in the series at -140 at most sportsbooks but the Tigers have the best pitcher in baseball in Justin Verlander and are coming off their 3-2 series win over the New York Yankees.

Both the Rangers and the Tigers were great in the regular season and money makers for baseball bettors. The Tigers were 50-31 SU at home and 45-36 away. Sports Bettors finished +18.47 units on the Tigers which includes +7.47 at home and +11.00 on the road. The Tigers were +25.78 as a favorite but -7.31 as the underdog.

Texas was 96-66 overall including 52-29 at home and 44-37 on the road. Overall they were +11.75 units over the season, +7.23 at home and +4.52 on the road. They were +11.29 as a favorite and +.46 as a dog.

These two played nine times during the season with the Tigers winning six of them. For total bettors, the total runs scored each of these games were 7, 9, 11, 10, 9, 20, 5, 9 and 2.

The Tigers were 31-20 vs. left handed pitchers and 64-47 vs. right handers. The Rangers were 26-21 vs. lefties and 70-45 vs. righties.

Justin Verlander had a tremendous season and will win the American League Cy Young award. Verlander went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP with 250 strikeouts. He wasn't at his best in Monday's 5-4 win over the Yankees but he did toss 8 innings, giving up 4 earned runs and  striking out 11. Verlander is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three career starts at Rangers Ballpark. He did lose (2-0) his only start against Texas this season, tossing a complete game at home in April.

C.J. Wilson, the Rangers ace had a very respectable season, going 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA, 1.19 WHIP while striking out 206. In Wilson's career, he is 43-35 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Wilson did not pitch well in his post season appearance against the Rays. Texas lost the game 9-0. He surrendered 6 earned runs in 5 innings of work.

The Tigers are a small road favorite in game one at -108 in Texas. The total is 7.5.


Join other sports bettors and discuss this game, post your picks on the MLB message boards or on Facebook or Twitter.