The Texas Rangers will take on their divisional rival Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The matchup will get going at 10:05 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to NBC Sports – California to catch the game.
Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Odds
The Rangers have gone 56-71 SU this year and are 64-62 against the spread (ATS). The team hasn’t moved the needle very much this year, gaining 0.6 units for gamblers taking the moneyline, despite having lost 0.3 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven. The Athletics, on the other hand, are 75-50 SU and 63-61 ATS. The team’s gained 29.8 units for moneyline bettors and 0.1 units ATS. Oakland has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven outings and the total has gone under in three of those seven.
Oakland games have had an over/under record of 56-60-8 in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 59-58-9.
Right-hander Ariel Jurado will get the start for the visiting Rangers. Jurado is 2-2 with a 6.41 ERA and 11 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Athletics this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Athletics are going with lefty Brett Anderson (2-3, 3.90 ERA), who has 27 strikeouts and 11 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.30. Anderson is 1-0 with six strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA in one start against Texas this year.
As a unit, Oakland’s pitchers have allowed 4.2 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.07, a WHIP of 1.21 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.6. The bullpen has a 3.37 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 55 games against AL West foes, Athletics starters have an ERA of 5.07 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.72.
Oakland’s offense is putting up 4.8 runs per contest, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .257/.320/.492 over its last five contests and is 3-2 SU during that span.
The Athletics’ batters have been led by shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie. Semien is hitting .267/.325/.391 with 10 home runs, 46 RBIs, 73 runs and 13 stolen bases, and Lowrie’s line is .269/.350/.462 with 19 homers, 76 RBIs and 54 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Texas’ pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.47 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 6.33 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.18, along with a WHIP of 1.46 and a K/9 of 8.17.
Rangers hitters have slashed .246/.328/.414 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Texas’ hitters have been paced by Shin-soo Choo and Nomar Mazara, who’ve collectively launched 36 home runs. Choo is slashing .283/.395/.478 with 20 home runs, 57 RBIs and 71 runs scored, while Mazara is hitting .272/.333/.452 with 16 homers, 60 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
The Rangers have lost 1.7 units and are 19-21 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 22 of those games, compared to 13 that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 21.1 units and are 39-40 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 38 of those games, as opposed to 38 that’ve cashed the under.
Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has cashed in three of Texas’ last seven games.
- The Athletics have won three of their last four games SU.
- Oakland has posted 24.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 23.6 over its last five.
- The Rangers have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Athletics have hit 16 over their last 10.
