MLB: Thursday's plays

Play: Texas -117 (Darvish vs. Chen)

Time: 7:05 p.m. ET

Reasoning: The Rangers rake LH, scoring 5.34 runs per game against them. That figure is 1.67 runs better than vs. RH. In the last five games the Texas bullpen has a 2.84 ERA and Orioles relievers have a 4.91 ERA. Yu Darvish has been brilliant this season. He has a 2.42 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. In his last turn he didn't allow a run for the sixth time in 2014. Baltimore has seen Darvish just once, in a 2012 playoff game where he allowed two ER in 6.2 IP. Wei-Yin Chen suffered the shortest outing of his career on Saturday against Tampa Bay (5 R, 7 H in 3.1 IP). Chen has a 4.19 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP this year.


Play: Arizona/Pittsburgh over 7.5 -115 (McCarthy vs. Worley)

Time: 7:05 p.m. ET

Reasoning: Games at PNC Park have averaged 8.44 runs. Contests called by umpire D.J. Reyburn have averaged between 8.69 and 8.82 runs over the past two and a half seasons. The Pirates have averaged 5.34 runs in their last 10 games. Rookie Gregory Polanco has reached base in 19 of 21 games and Starling Marte has hit safely in each of his 12 career contests against the Diamondbacks. Paul Goldschmidt is 5-for-7 in the series. Brandon McCarthy has been a gas can this year. He has a 5.11 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Against Pittsburgh he is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA and has allowed the Pirates to hit .304 against him. Vance Worley has pitched over his head this season and he's made just three starts. Combining 2012 and '13, he had a McCarthy-like ERA of 5.00 in 33 starts.


Record: 127-93-6 (57.7%)
Bankroll: +87.60%