The Oakland Athletics are ready to square off against their divisional rival Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. NBC Sports – California will be televising the action and the game will get underway at 8:05 p.m. ET.
Oakland Athletics vs. Texas Rangers Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Texas (+105) as the underdog to Oakland (-115). The total sits at 9.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over or the under for -110. You can also bet on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at +130 for the Athletics -1.5 runs and -150 for the Rangers +1.5.
The Rangers are just 8-16 SU and 9-14 ATS. They’ve lost 2.5 units for moneyline bettors and 8.4 units against the spread (ATS). Texas has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Athletics have gone 12-11 SU this year and are 10-12 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 0.1 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going, but have lost 4.0 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Texas games have had an over/under record of 11-11-1 so far in 2018. Oakland has an over/under record of 12-9-1.
Andrew Triggs is getting the nod for the visiting Athletics. The right-handed Triggs is 1-0 with a 5.82 ERA and 17 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with seven strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA against Texas this year.
The Rangers are turning to lefty Cole Hamels (1-3, 4.76 ERA), who’s got 34 strikeouts and 11 walks to his name as well as a WHIP of 1.45. Hamels is 1-0 with 11 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA over one starts against Oakland this year.
Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.8 runs per game and its starters own a 4.73 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 7.38 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.78, along with a K/9 of 7.34.
Athletics hitters have slashed .274/.354/.452 on their way to 5.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Second baseman Jed Lowrie and third baseman Matt Chapman have led Oakland’s hitters. Lowrie is slashing .357/.411/.612 with six home runs, 23 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Chapman is hitting .282 with five homers, 14 RBIs and 18 runs scored.
Lowrie seemed to take a step back when hitting lefty pitching on the road last year. Over 73 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .203/.301/.359 (compared to his overall season line of .277/.360/.448).
For the home team, Texas’ pitching staff has given up 5.3 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.11, a WHIP of 1.51 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.8. The bullpen has a 4.60 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 8.4 K/9. In 18 divisional games, Rangers starters have an ERA of 4.74 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.56.
The Texas hitters are putting up 3.7 runs per outing, including 3.4 per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over their last five. The team has hit .233/.328/.393 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Rangers’ hitters have been led by shortstop Elvis Andrus and first baseman Joey Gallo. Andrus is hitting .327/.426/.500 with 17 hits, five RBIs and seven runs scored, while Gallo’s line is .213/.293/.494 with seven homers, 17 RBIs and 13 runs.
The Athletics have lost 2.7 units and are 4-5 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in three of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Rangers have netted 0.8 units and are 8-9 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in seven of those games, compared to nine that went under the total.
Oakland Athletics at Texas Rangers MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Athletics have won seven of their last eight games SU.
Oakland has recorded 26.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 28.6 over its last five.
Each team has hit 14 home runs over its last 10 games.
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