Rays have been dominant at home this year and they'll face the Rangers who are also competing for the AL Wild Card. This is a big series for the Rays if they want to make a stand here and I think they will as they turn to Kazmir who has not pitched well at home this year with a 7.32 ERA. So if he has not pitched well why am I backing the Rays? Well in his last three home starts he has a 3.30 ERA and against the Rangers he has a career 2.06 ERA in his 8 career starts against them. Rangers are collectively hitting only .173 against Kazmir and the Rays are 17-2 in his last 19 starts as a favorite -151 to -200.
Nippert will go for the Rangers and he has one start against the Rays where he went 4 innings and gave up 8 hits and 7 ER I expect another poor performance as he has a 4.70 ERA on the road and is not nearly the same pitcher who has a home ERA of 1.76. Also noteworthy is the Rangers 15-36 record in their last 51 road games vs. LH starters.
