The Texas Rangers are quietly one of the best MLB teams in the league. They are not just winning MLB games, they are dominating their early MLB schedule through the first quarter of the season. Continue reading below to get our best NHL odds, Betting Picks and much more.
The Rangers are 23-14 and atop the American League West MLB standings and have a run differential of plus-86, which is the second best in Major League Baseball. Now, they get to beat up on the Oakland Athletics, who are 8-31 – already 16 games behind the Rangers – and have a preposterous minus-146 run differential, which is markable since they have scored 147 runs.
Here is a breakdown of each team, Rangers vs Athletics odds, starting pitchers and MLB picks.
Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Information
Texas Rangers vs Oakland Athletics
Location of the game: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA.
Date & Time: Friday, May 12. 9:40 p.m. ET.
How to watch: NBC Sports California | Bally Sports Network | MLB.TV
Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Odds
The Rangers vs Athletics odds show the visitors are -175 on the moneyline and -1.5 (-110) on the run line. The Athletics are +155 on the moneyline and +1.5 (-110) on the run line.
The over/under is 9 runs with +100 odds on the over and -120 odds on the under.
The Rangers’ implied run total is 5 runs with -110 odds on the over and -120 odds on the under. The Athletics’ implied run total is 3.5 runs with -120 odds on the over and -110 odds on the under.
Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Betting Preview
One of the most remarkable things about the Rangers’ roster is that they endured injuries to shortstop Corey Seager, who is on the MLB injury report until late may with a hamstring injury, and ace Jacob deGrom, who suffered an elbow injury. Yet, Texas has the depth to overcome those injuries and continue playing solid ball.
There are plenty of reasons to be a fan of Texas Rangers picks this season. They have the best offense in scoring 6.35 runs per game, are sixth with a batting average of .264, and are fifth with an OPS of .776. The pitching staff has been equally good, ranking seventh while allowing 3.99 runs per game and fifth with a batting average against of .227 and an opposing OPS of .651.
Offensive Challenges: Athletics Struggle to Score
As expected, the Oakland Athletics stats are horrible, and borderline unbelievable with their pitching staff. The A’s are last in allowing 7.73 runs per game, a batting average against of .286 and an opposing OPS of .888. They also allow 1.79 home runs per game, the worst rate in the league.
The offense is not at the bottom, though. The Athletics are 27th in scoring 3.88 runs per game and with a .230 batting average, and they are 22nd with a .689 OPS. While the offense is not great, it is respectable. Except they are missing Ramon Laureano (concussion), Manny Pina (wrist), Aledmys Diaz (hamstring), and Seth BRown (oblique), who all are injured.
Starting Pitchers
Martin Perez (Rangers)
Perez is 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 37.1 innings pitched, MLB player stats show. He is more of a pitcher who throws to contact and is crafty than overpowering.
Ken Waldichuk (Athletics)
Waldichuk has allowed three earned runs or more in six of his seven starts en route to a 1-2 record with a 7.25 ERA. He has allowed 12 home runs and has 31 strikeouts to 18 walks in 36.0 innings pitched.
Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Picks and Predictions
So far, 71% of public bets like the over when looking at Rangers vs Athletics odds. But Perez is crafty and a pitcher’s park favors a contact pitcher so we’ll take the under.
Predictably, 80% of public bets are on the Rangers to win straight up, and we side with the public. Texas has won nine of its last 13 games against the Athletics in Oakland.
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