The Texas Rangers will welcome the Oakland Athletics to Globe Life Park in Game 1 of a divisional doubleheader. NBC Sports – California will be showing the matchup and the game is slated to get underway at 2:05 p.m. ET.
Oakland Athletics vs. Texas Rangers Odds
The Rangers are 32-29 straight up (SU) and 35-25 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 10.8 units for moneyline bettors and 7.0 units ATS. The Athletics are 32-31 SU and have gone 30-32 against the spread. Overall, the team’s lost 3.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 2.6 units ATS.
Rangers games have had an over/under record of 30-29-1 so far in 2019. The Athletics have an over/under record of 31-28-3.
The right-handed Paul Blackburn will get the start for the visiting Athletics. Blackburn has yet to pitch in the majors this season.
The Rangers are sending Joe Palumbo to the mound. This game represents the first MLB start of the season for the left-handed Palumbo.
Texas’ pitching staff has given up 5.2 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 4.97, a WHIP of 1.52 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.8. The bullpen has a 4.85 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 7.9 K/9. In 36 games against divisional foes, Rangers starters have an ERA of 4.99 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.52.
The Texas hitters are putting up 5.6 runs per contest, including 5.4 per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .284/.345/.388 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Shin-soo Choo and Elvis Andrus have led the way for the Rangers’ offense this year. Choo is hitting .295/.381/.539 with 11 home runs, 28 RBIs and 41 runs scored, while Andrus has produced a line of .302/.342/.458 with six homers, 32 RBIs, 30 runs and 11 stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.21 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 6.96 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.22, along with a K-per-9 of 8.56.
The Athletics offense has slashed .246/.321/.433 on its way to 4.9 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman have paced Oakland’s hitters. Semien is hitting .270/.356/.430 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs and 41 runs scored, while Chapman is hitting .264/.348/.529 with 16 homers, 36 RBIs and 40 runs scored.
The Athletics have gained 8.3 units and are 11-7 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in nine of those games, compared to eight that’ve gone under against lefties. 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 has hit in 20 of those games, as opposed to 20 that’ve gone under.
Athletics at Rangers Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – UNDER
Betting Notes
- The under has cashed in three of Oakland’s last seven games.
- The Athletics have an OPS of .753 this season, including an OPS of .849 against left-handed pitchers. The Rangers’ OPS sits at .788 overall and .729 against southpaws.
- Oakland has posted 23.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 26.6 over its last five.
- The Athletics have hit 19 home runs in their last 10 games. The Rangers have hit nine over their last 10.
