Dominic Fazzini

Saturday's plays

10 Dime -- Rangers (Feldman) over TWINS (Pavano)

5 Dime -- Titans (plus the points vs. BROWNS)

RANGERS
NOTE: List only Feldman as Texas' starting pitcher

Scott Feldman (13-4, 3.87 ERA) has really stepped up in the heat of the playoff race for the Rangers.

The right-hander allowed four hits with a career-high 11 strikeouts Sunday in seven scoreless innings against Tampa Bay. He also has been solid on the road, with wins in five straight starts away from Arlington.

Feldman has a 1.87 ERA in those five outings, and is 9-1 with a 2.97 ERA in 11 road starts this season. He is 4-0 with a 3.41 ERA in five starts overall this month.

Carl Pavano (11-9, 5.20) has been up and down since the Twins acquired him from Cleveland on Aug. 7. He allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings Sunday at Kansas City, which makes me think he's due for a poor outing today.

The right-hander was ripped at Texas on Aug. 18, giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks in four innings of a no-decision. Pavano is 0-1 with a 25.20 ERA in two career starts vs. the Rangers, allowing 14 runs in five innings.

Texas has lost 10 of 14 games at the Metrodome since 2007, but I think Feldman gives the team a great chance to buck that trend tonight. Go with the Rangers.

TITANS

Tennessee, with three exhibition games already under its belt, has things pretty well figured out for the regular season at this point. Cleveland, however, has plenty of question marks remaining, including who its starting quarterback is going to be.

Titans QB Kerry Collins and the first-team offense is expected to play into the third quarter tonight. With LenDale White and Chris Johnson tearing up yardage on the ground, Tennessee should take command of this game in the first half.

The Browns scored 27 points last week against Detroit, but neither Derek Anderson nor Brady Quinn threw a touchdown pass, and one of Cleveland's TDs came on an 84-yard punt return by Josh Cribbs. Tennessee's defense is pretty tough, so I can't imagine the Browns putting up many points tonight.

If the game is close going into the final quarter, I give the edge to the Titans, who have Vince Young and Patrick Ramsey relieving Collins at QB. Meanwhile, the inexperienced Brett Ratliff or Richard Bartel will finish up for the Browns.

Before last week's win, Cleveland was 0-5 straight-up and against the spread, including 0-3 SU and ATS at home. Tennessee, while it has failed to cover in three straight exhibition games, is 8-3 SU in its last 11 preseason contests. Take the Titans to cover the points, if not win outright, in this one.