The Rangers are getting hot, while the A’s are a bit cool at the moment, heading into the opener of this four-game AL West series Friday night in Arlington. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Friday’s MLB betting odds opened Texas at around -115 over Oakland, with an over/under of 10.5 runs. Early betting action then dipped the line to -110 and the total to 10.
A’s vs. Rangers Set-Up
Oakland just took two of three games from the Angels in Anaheim, winning Thursday’s series rubber match 7-4. Just before that, though, the A’s got swept three games at home by Houston, and just before that they dropped two of three at home to the Angels. So Oakland is only 2-6 over its last eight games.
Texas, meanwhile, just took two of three games at home from Baltimore, winning Thursday’s rubber match 4-3. Just before that the Rangers took three of four at home from Kansas City, and just before that they took two of three from the Mariners in Seattle. So Texas is 3-0 over its last three series and 7-2 over its last nine games.
At 32-28 overall the Rangers sit in second place in the AL West, nine games back of the division-leading Astros, with the 31-31 A’s 11 games out.
Oakland leads this season series with Texas four games to one.
Friday’s Starting Arms
Lynn, by our stringent standards, is 7/12 on quality starts this season and four for his last five. Last Saturday he held the Royals to two runs and six hits through 6 1/3 innings of a 6-2 Rangers victory. And over his last five starts, he’s allowed 11 runs and 30 hits through 33 1/3 innings.
Texas is 8-4 with Lynn this season, 3-1 over his last four starts.
In his only career start against the A’s, back in April of this season, Lynn got rocked for eight runs and nine hits through 3 1/3 innings of an 11-5 Rangers loss.
Lefty Anderson is 5/12 on quality starts this year, and while he’s only one for his last three, he’s been pretty good as of late. Last Saturday he gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings of a 5-1 Oakland loss to Houston. But over his last three starts, he’s allowed only five runs and 16 hits through 17 innings.
The A’s are 7-5 with Anderson this season, 2-1 over his last three starts.
Over his last three starts against Texas, two last year and one this season, Anderson allowed four earned runs and nine hits through 19 innings. Oakland won two of those three games.
Friday’s Batting Splits
Oakland is batting .237/.313/.411 against right-handed pitching this season.
Texas is batting .239/.311/.415 against left-handed pitching this season.
The Bullpens
The A’s bullpen owns a 4.27 ERA this season and a 1.33 WHIP.
The Rangers pen owns a 4.76 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP.
Totals Report
- Totals are split 31-31 in A’s games this season.
- Overs are 30-29 in Rangers games this season.
- Unders are 18-14 in games played at Globe Life Park this season.
- Overs are 4-1 in A’s-Rangers games this season.
- Get more details: Oakland at Texas MLB Match-up Stats
