There are a lot of questions surrounding the Texas Rangers this season. Las Vegas betting experts think the team鈥檚 a long shot 鈥� only giving the Rangers to win the World Series this year.
The Rangers face the Houston Astros on at Globe Life Ballpark in Arlington. The chief rival of the Rangers are coming off an impressive World Series run, and after a rough season last year, the Rangers are .
鈥淭his is not a team that does well as the 鈥榟unted鈥�; they like to be the 鈥榟unter,鈥欌�� , dugout reporter for the Rangers, said. 鈥淭hey like to be the underdog; they like to have a chip on their shoulder.鈥�
Jones says the team knows that the expectations on the outside aren鈥檛 very high. One of those expectations is to keep up with the Astros in the American League West division. While it might seem like the Rangers have a steep hill to climb, the team won division titles in 2015-2016.
Jones has been covering the Rangers since 2007. She says the team has high hopes for three young players: , and . It鈥檚 the pitching staff that may not be quite up to par.
鈥淭his is probably the most question marks we鈥檝e had coming into a season,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淪o maybe there鈥檚 that little bit of 鈥� not really uncertainty 鈥� but excitement to kind of see where chips fall.鈥�
And in order for the team to be in the hunt, she says they鈥檒l need some early wins to maybe build a little bit of confidence and keep themselves in it.鈥�
So, if you鈥檙e feeling lucky, those 200-1 odds on the Rangers aren鈥檛 that bad.
Things to know about Opening Day
- Cash parking lots at the ballpark open at 9 a.m.
- Astros-Rangers first pitch starts at 2:40 p.m.
- Pitcher takes the mound for the Rangers, while the Astros will go with .
- The Rangers are 24-22 in home openers, and it will be the fourth time they face a World Series winner in the first game of the season.
- Texas country singer-songwriter Kyle Park will sing the National Anthem. Following the National Anthem, there will be a flyover of planes from the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison.
- Get there early: All fans will be required to undergo Major League Baseball-mandated metal detection screening before entering the ballpark.
