The Texas Rangers are ready to face their divisional rival Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. NBC Sports – California is in line to televise the action and the game is scheduled to get underway at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Odds
Texas (+160) is entering this game as the underdog against Oakland (-170) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 9 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total sit at -130 for the over and +110 for the under. The game’s current runline odds sit at -135 for taking the Rangers +1.5 runs and +115 for the Athletics -1.5.
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). Oakland has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven. The Rangers are 61-80 SU and have gone 69-71 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 2.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.7 units ATS. Texas is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven.
Oakland games have a 64-68-9 over/under record in 2018. Texas has an over/under record of 65-65-10.
Left-hander Yohander Mendez will get the nod for the visiting Rangers. Mendez (1-1, 5.59 ERA) has racked up three strikeouts 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 are handing the ball to righty Edwin Jackson (5-3, 2.91 ERA), who has 51 punchouts and 26 walks, as well as a 1.13 WHIP. Jackson is 0-1 with six strikeouts and a 9.35 ERA across two starts against Texas this year.
As a unit, Oakland’s pitchers have yielded 4.1 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.12, a WHIP of 1.23 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.5. The bullpen has a 3.30 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 65 games against divisional opponents, Athletics starters have an ERA of 5.16 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.62.
The Oakland offense is putting up 4.8 runs per contest, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .263/.348/.463 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
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 scored.
In the visiting dugout, Texas’ pitchers have 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 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 year, including 4.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Shin-soo Choo and Jurickson Profar continue to lead Texas’ hitters. Choo is hitting .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.
The Rangers have gained 2.0 units and are 48-45 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 41 of those games, compared to 47 that’ve gone 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’s cashed in 21 of those games, compared to 26 that went under the total.
Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in three of Texas’ last seven games.
- The Rangers have lost three of their last four games SU while the Athletics have taken four of their last five.
- Texas has recorded 20.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 25.2 over its last five.
- The Rangers have hit 15 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
