The Texas Rangers (31-49) and Oakland Athletics (48-34) finalize a three-game series Thursday at 3:37 p.m. ET at Oakland Coliseum. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Rangers vs. Athletics odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Dane Dunning is the projected starting pitcher for the Rangers. In 15 starts, Dunning is 3-6 with a 4.63 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 9.6 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 through 70 IP.
Dunning has struggled away from home with a 7.45 road ERA through seven starts.
LHP Sean Manaea is the projected starting pitcher for the Athletics. He is 6-4 with a 2.91 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 9.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 over 92 2/3 IP spanning 16 starts.
The Texas lineup swings much more from the left side than most batting orders, and that figures as a big platoon edge for Manaea, who has held left-handed batters to a .451 OPS this season and a .581 OPS over his career.
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Rangers at Athletics odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rangers +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Athletics -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Rangers +1.5 (-140) | Athletics -1.5 (+115)
- Over/Under: 8 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Prediction
Rangers 4, Athletics 3
Money line (ML)
Thursday’s matinee is a rubber match and the winner will take the series 2 games to 1. While the visiting Rangers are certainly not worthy of favorite status in taking the third game, they are a solid value play as underdogs.
Dunning has posted a sub-5 ERA despite pitching around a .382 BABIP. He pitches in front of a bullpen with similar BABIP issues over recent weeks. The Texas bullpen may, in fact, be better than the Oakland ‘pen, but surface numbers certainly lean hard the other way.
The Athletics offense has scuffled its way to a .685 OPS since June 16; Rangers bats own an improved .757 OPS since June 12.
TAKE TEXAS (+145).
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
More risk-averse bettors may want to take a crack at a run line with the RANGERS +1.5 (-140). There has been some overnight pull to the Texas side; any swing back toward a -135 or -130 price would make for a decent value play.
Over/Under (O/U)
Lots of cross signals underwrite this figure. PASS.
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