SAN DIEGO — With 15 games to go in the regular season Matt Ioannidis Jersey Elite , Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister is making things complicated.On Friday night at Petco Park, Banister decided to follow a trend and use an “opener” to start the first game of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres. Right-hander Connor Sadzeck worked a scoreless first inning before turning the game over to scheduled starter Yohander Mendez, who pitched the next five innings of a five-hit Texas shutout.It was hinted that left-hander Jeffrey Springs would be the “opener” Saturday for the second straight time in front of scheduled right-handed starter Ariel Jurado (2-5, 7.03 ERA). Then Springs followed Mendez and worked two scoreless innings in relief Friday night.Article continues below ...Now it will be left-hander Alex Claudio (4-2, 4.87) “opening” for the Rangers on Saturday in front of Jurado against Padres’ rookie left-hander Eric Lauer (5-7, 4.80).The only thing that is certain is that neither Jurado nor Lauer has ever faced the other team before — although opener Claudio allowed a hit in a scoreless inning against the Padres back on June 26 in Texas.Lauer, 23, the 25th overall selection in the 2016 draft, will be making his 21st start of the season and his third start since returning from the disabled list Aug. 30 after missing 25 games with a forearm strain.Over nine innings since his return, Lauer has allowed one earned run on two hits and five walks with 10 strikeouts. Lauer has worked 95 2/3 innings on the season http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/matthew-ioannidis-jersey , giving up 57 runs (51 earned) on 113 hits and 42 walks with 85 strikeouts with a high .294 opponents’ batting average and a 1.62 WHIP.But over his last 13 starts, since June 2, Lauer has a 3.53 ERA while allowing three earned runs or fewer in 11 of those outings. The Padres went 6-7 in those 13 starts. Each of his five outings of six innings or more this season has resulted in a quality start. And after giving up 13 homers in his first 86 2/3 innings, Lauer has not allowed a homer in his two outings since returning.Tuesday night will mark the fourth time that Texas has used an “opener” in front of the starter. And each of the openers has been a left-hander in front of the right-handed starter.Padres manager Andy Green said Friday night that he would not adjust his starting lineup for one or two innings from an “opener.”Factually, this will be the 22-year-old Jurado’s third relief appearance against seven starts. He has worked a total of 39 2/3 innings this season, allowing 31 runs on 51 hits and 15 walks with just 14 strikeouts. Opposing hitters are batting .313 against Jurado, who has a 1.66 WHIP.Jurado spent the majority of the season with Double-A Frisco of the Texas League, going 5-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 16 starts. The Rangers are 3-4 in Jurado’s seven starts. Tim Bradbury/Getty ImagesThe World Series champion Houston Astros hope to stave off elimination and send the American League Championship Series back to Boston on Thursday, when they host the Red Sox as home favorites in Game 5 of the set.The Astros have lost the first two games of this series at Minute Maid Park, where they went 46-35 during the regular season. They lost nine straight at home between July 15 and August 14. MLB betting line: The Astros opened as -152 favorites (wager $152 to win $100); the total is at 7.5 runs Authentic Adrian Peterson Jersey , according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 5.4-2.8, Astros.MLB picks on every game.Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.Why the Red SoxCan Pay on the MLB LinesBoston has been phenomenal away from home this year, going 55-30, including the postseason. The Red Sox are a perfect 4-0 on the road in the playoffs, and their offense has been the difference no matter who they have sent to the mound as their starting pitcher.The Red Sox are averaging nine runs per game in those four outings, scoring eight in both Games 3 and 4 at Houston. In Wednesday's 8-6 victory, Boston outfielder Andrew Benintendi saved the game with a spectacular bases-loaded catch even though closer Craig Kimbrel technically earned it despite allowing one run and two hits in two innings. Why the AstrosCan Pay on the MLB LinesThe Astros will not have expected to be in this situation, down 3-1 in the ALCS at home Adrian Peterson Jersey Elite , but they could not have a better pitcher than ace Justin Verlander (16-9, 2.52 ERA) in Game 5. The 35-year-old has won each of his first two starts in the postseason, including Game 1 at Fenway Park after allowing two runs and two hits in six innings with four walks and six strikeouts.Verlander also limited the Red Sox to a .143 batting average in one start during the regular season, walking away with a no-decision following six innings of work in an eventual 5-4 home loss back on June 2. Smart Betting PickHouston obviously has a serious problem in needing three consecutive wins to advance to the World Series for the second year in a row, but Verlander will not let the team's season end at home.Instead, expect Verlander and the Astros to play hard with the heart of champions and put pressure on their opponent to win the series at Fenway Park. The Red Sox have not won four straight games in more than a month, and they will not pull off that feat again here. Take Houston.MLB betting trendsThe total has gone over in 11 of Boston's past 13 games.The total has gone over in seven of Boston's past nine games on the road.Houston is 12-5 in its past 17 games. All MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.