In Sunday baseball action, it’s the 64-65 Texas Rangers versus the 57-72 Oakland A’s in the 3rd game of a three-game set in Oakland Coliseum Oakland, California today. The first pitch for the finale at Oakland Coliseum is scheduled for 4:05 PM ET.
The betting board at Intertops lists the host Athletics as slight-108 moneyline favorites over their road challenger Rangers. The total line for this match is posted at 9.5 runs
In Game 2 of this series yesterday, the A’s beat the Rangers 8-3. In the game the A’s scored eight runs on 11 hits and the Rangers scored three runs on eight hits.
This season the Rangers rank 5th in the Majors in runs scored and 15th in team ERA.
The A’s rank tied for 21st in the Majors in runs scored and 24th in team ERA.
Pitching Match Up
Texas: A.J. Griffin (6-4, 5.10 ERA)
Oakland: Jharel Cotton (6-10, 5.63 ERA)
A.J. Griffin goes for the Rangers in this series finale and in his last outing he gave up three earned runs in five innings in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Texas has lost two of his last three starts where in the two losses he gave up seven earned runs in 10 innings and only gave up one in the win. This season Griffin has faced the A’s three times and is 1-0 with an ERA of 5.02. He spent June and July on the DL and in the four starts since coming off it the Rangers are 2-2. Overall, Texas is11-4 in Griffin’s last15 starts and they are 7-3 in his last 10 starts against a team with a losing record.
Jharel Cotton gets the nod for the A’s and he went six innings in his last start giving up two earned runs on only four hits in a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros. Oakland had dropped his previous three outings where he was not sharp giving up 14 earned runs in 19 innings of work. Cotton faced the Rangers in his 3rd start of the season giving up five earned runs in five innings in a 7-0 A’s loss and he is 1-1 in his career against them. In Cotton’s last start was the first in seven where he lasted past the 5th inning. The A’s have lost five of his last seven home starts and have lost nine of his last 13 starts overall.
Betting Angles
The A’s are 5-1 in their last 6 home games against the Rangers.
In the last 15 games between these teams the Under record is 9-5-1.
In the last 9 game between these teams in Oakland the Under record is 6-2-1.
This season the A’s are 36-31 at home and the Rangers are 29-36 on the road.
Straight Up / Over/Under / Run Line Records
Texas Rangers: 64-65 SU / O/U 57-69 / Run Line W/L 72-57
Oakland A’s: 57-72 SU / O/U 68-57 / Run Line W/L 67-62
Texas at Oakland Key Betting Trends
- TEX is 11-6 in their last 17 overall
- TEX is 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter
- TEX has an Under record of 5-3 in their last 8 road games
- OAK is 12-5 in their last 17 home games vs. a right-handed starter
- OAK is 27-55 in their last 82 vs. American League West
- OAK has an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 games
Key Player Injuries
RANGERS
[SS] 04/03/2017 – Hanser Alberto 60-day DL (03/30) ( Shoulder )
[P] 03/31/2017 – Jake Diekman 60-day DL (02/14) ( Abdominal )
[P] 08/21/2017 – Matt Bush 10-day DL (08/21) ( Knee )
[3B] 08/22/2017 – Joey Gallo 7-day DL (08/22) ( Concussion )
ATHLETICS
[CF] 07/02/2017 – Dustin Fowler 60-day DL (06/30) ( Knee )
[P] 06/10/2017 – Andrew Triggs 60-day DL (06/10) ( Hip )
[P] 05/28/2017 – Bobby Wahl 60-day DL (05/24) ( Shoulder )
[P] 04/01/2017 – Chris Bassitt 60-day DL (03/30) ( Elbow )
[CF] 04/01/2017 – Jake Smolinski 60-day DL (03/30) ( Shoulder )
[C] 07/28/2017 – Josh Phegley 10-day DL (07/25) ( Oblique )
[P] 08/26/2017 – Paul Blackburn 10-day DL (08/23) ( Wrist )
