The Texas Rangers will take on their divisional rival Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. NBC Sports – California will be televising the action and the game gets underway at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Odds
Vegas has listed Texas (+160) as the underdog to Oakland (-170). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds posted at -130 for over 9 runs and +110 for under 9. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds coming in at Rangers +1.5 runs (-135) and Athletics -1.5 runs (+115).
The Athletics are 85-57 straight up (SU) and 75-66 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 32.7 units for moneyline bettors and 8.3 units (ATS). The Rangers have gone 61-80 SU this year and are 69-71 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 2.9 units for moneyline bettors and 5.7 units ATS.
Oakland games have an over/under record of 64-68-9 in 2018. The Rangers have an over/under record of 65-65-10.
Yohander Mendez will get the start for the visiting Rangers. The southpaw Mendez (1-1, 5.59 ERA) has racked up three punchouts in 9.2 innings so far. He has yet to face the Athletics this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Athletics will turn to righty Edwin Jackson (5-3, 2.91 ERA), who’s got 51 punchouts and 26 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.13. Jackson is 0-1 with six strikeouts and a 9.35 ERA across two starts against Texas this year.
Texas’ pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.48 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 6.30 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.23, along with a K/9 of 8.26.
Rangers hitters have slashed .244/.326/.412 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game this season, including 4.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Shin-soo Choo and Jurickson Profar have paced Texas’ hitters. Choo is slashing .272/.383/.457 with 21 home runs, 61 RBIs and 78 runs scored, while Profar (.255/.339/.452) has produced 15 homers, 69 RBIs and 72 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Oakland’s pitching staff has allowed 4.1 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 4.12 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.30 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 65 divisional games, Athletics starters have an ERA of 5.16 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.62.
The Oakland hitters are putting up 4.8 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over their last five. The team has hit .263/.348/.463 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie have led the Athletics’ batters this year. Semien is slashing .262/.326/.390 with 12 home runs, 55 RBIs, 81 runs and 14 stolen bases, while Lowrie’s line is .273/.357/.463 with 21 homers, 87 RBIs and 66 runs.
The Rangers have gained 2.0 units and are 48-45 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 41 of those games, as opposed to 47 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 4.7 units and are 28-24 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in 21 of those games, compared to 26 that went under the total.
Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The over has cashed in four of Texas’ last seven games.
The Rangers have lost three of their last four games SU while the Athletics have won four of their last five.
Oakland has recorded 21.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 23.0 over its last five.
The Rangers have hit 15 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
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