The Oakland Athletics will be taking on their divisional foe Texas Rangers in a Sunday showdown. The action will get going at 3:05 p.m. ET and fans looking to watch it can tune in to NBC Sports – California.
Oakland Athletics vs. Texas Rangers Odds
Texas (+145) is the home-team underdog against Oakland (-155) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this one at 11 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total now sit at -115 for the over and -105 for the under. The game’s runline odds sit at -110 for picking the Athletics -1.5 runs and -110 for the Rangers +1.5.
The Rangers are 34-29 straight up (SU) and 35-26 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 9.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 6.0 units ATS. Texas has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven games and the under has cashed in six of those seven. The Athletics have gone 32-33 SU this year and are 31-32 against the spread. In total, the team’s lost 2.3 units for moneyline gamblers and 1.6 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Neither squad has been a strong over/under play this season. Texas games have had an over/under record of 30-30-1 so far in 2019. The Athletics have an over/under record of 31-29-3.
The right-handed Frankie Montas is getting the nod for the visiting Athletics. Montas is 7-2 with a 2.83 ERA and 69 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with six strikeouts and a 4.76 ERA against Texas this year.
The Rangers are sending lefty Drew Smyly (1-4, 7.93 ERA) to the mound. Smyly has 41 strikeouts and 29 walks to his name, along with a WHIP of 1.86. Smyly is 0-0 with five strikeouts and a 7.20 ERA in one start against Oakland this year.
Texas’ pitching staff has given up 5.1 runs per game overall this season as a unit. The club’s starting pitching staff has a 4.90 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.79 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.8 K/9. In 38 divisional games, Rangers starters have an ERA of 4.88 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.40.
The Texas hitters are putting up 5.7 runs per contest, including 5.4 per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .253/.328/.382 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Rangers’ offense has been led by Elvis Andrus and Shin-soo Choo. Andrus is hitting .303/.342/.462 with six home runs, 33 RBIs, 32 runs and 13 stolen bases, and Choo’s line sits at .287/.379/.525 with 11 homers, 28 RBIs and 43 runs.
In the other dugout, Oakland’s pitchers have allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.31 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 7.02 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.24, along with a WHIP of 1.27.
The Athletics offense has slashed .244/.319/.431 on its way to 4.9 runs scored per game this season, including 4.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Oakland’s hitters have been led by shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman, who have combined to launch 25 home runs. Semien is hitting .273/.359/.432 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs and 41 runs scored, while Chapman is hitting .260/.343/.520 with 16 homers, 36 RBIs and 40 runs scored.
The Athletics have gained 8.3 units and are 11-7 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in nine of those games, compared to eight that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rangers have netted 9.2 units and are 22-18 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 20 of those games, as opposed to 20 which went under the total.
Athletics at Rangers MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- Oakland has tallied 17 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Texas has 12 XBH over its last five.
- The Athletics have an OPS of .750 this season, including an OPS of .854 against left-handed pitchers. The Rangers’ OPS stands at .788 overall and .725 against southpaws.
- The Rangers have won four of their last five games SU.
- Texas has recorded 23.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 21.6 over its last five.
- The Athletics have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rangers have hit nine over their last 10.
