The Oakland Athletics are playing host to the Texas Rangers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. NBC Sports – California will televise the matchup and the first pitch will be at 10:05 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Odds
Vegas is listing Texas (+165) as the underdog to Oakland (-175). The total stands at nine runs and bettors can take the over for +100 or the under for -120. You can also bet on the game’s runline with the most recent odds sitting at -135 for the Rangers +1.5 runs and +115 for the Athletics -1.5 runs.
The Athletics are 84-57 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 went over in five of those seven. The Rangers have gone 61-79 SU this year and are 69-71 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 2.9 units for moneyline gamblers and 5.7 units ATS. Texas is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the over has cashed in four of those seven.
Athletics games have a 64-68-9 over/under record in 2018. Texas has an over/under record of 65-65-10.
The right-handed Yovani Gallardo will get the nod for Texas. Gallardo is 8-3 with a 5.97 ERA and 43 strikeouts. This will be his first start against Oakland this year. He made four starts against the team in 2017, putting together a 2-0 record with a 3.33 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
The Athletics are turning to righty Chris Bassitt (2-3, 3.19 ERA), who’s got 28 strikeouts and 15 walks to his credit as well as a WHIP of 1.34. Bassitt did not accrue any MLB pitching stats in 2017.
As a unit, Oakland’s pitchers have yielded 4.1 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 4.13 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.28 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 64 divisional games, Athletics starters have an ERA of 5.17 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.59.
The Oakland offense has put up 4.8 runs per contest, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 6.0 per game over its last five. The team has hit .238/.326/.431 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie have led the Athletics’ batters this year. Semien is slashing .259/.322/.383 with 11 home runs, 53 RBIs, 80 runs and 14 stolen bases, and Lowrie is batting .275 with 21 homers, 87 RBIs and 65 runs scored.
For the visitors, Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.45 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 6.30 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.22, along with a K/9 of 8.23.
Rangers hitters have slashed .244/.326/.412 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Shin-soo Choo and Jurickson Profar have paced Texas’ hitters. Choo is hitting .273/.383/.459 with 21 home runs, 61 RBIs and 78 runs scored, while Profar (.256/.339/.453) is up to 15 homers, 69 RBIs and 72 runs scored.
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, compared to 47 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 28.0 units and are 47-42 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 43 of those games, as opposed to 42 which went under the total.
Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Texas has logged 24 extra-base hits over its last five games. Oakland has 19 XBH over its last five.
The Rangers have hit 15 home runs in their last 10 games, including 13 over their last five.
Texas has recorded 20.1 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.6 over its last five.
The Athletics have won three of their last four games SU.
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