The Texas Rangers (22-14) and Oakland Athletics (8-30) meet Thursday to open a 4-game series. First pitch at Oakland Coliseum is slated for 9:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Athletics odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Texas leads 2-1
The Rangers are 4-2 on a road trip that has included stops in Los Angeles (Angels) and Seattle. The top-scoring team in the league (6.31 runs per game) was held to 6 runs in 3 games against the Mariners.
The Athletics are back at home after going 2-4 on a road trip that included stops in Kansas City and New York (Yankees). Oakland lost the last 4 games of that trip and is just 3-12 since April 25.
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Rangers at Athletics projected starters
RHP Nathan Eovaldi vs. RHP Zach Neal
Eovaldi (4-2, 3.22 ERA) is tabbed for his 8th start of the season. He has a 1.10 WHIP, 1.4 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9 in 44 2/3 IP.
- Has held current Oakland batters to a whiff-heavy .687 OPS
- Has not allowed a run in his last 2 starts (17 IP)
- Has a 2.45 ERA on the road this season; a 3.32 figure on the road since 2021
Neal last pitched in the majors in 2018 when he made 1 appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 85 2/3 career IP, he owns a 4.94 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.
- The 34-year-old has a 5.56 ERA in 11 1/3 Triple-A IP in 2023
- Pitched in Japan from 2019-21 before spending last season at Triple-A Albuquerque in the Colorado Rockies organization
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:03 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Rangers -270 (bet $270 to win $100) | Athletics +220 (bet $100 to win $220)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers -1.5 (-156) | Athletics +1.5 (+130)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -122 | U: +100)
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Rangers at Athletics picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 4, Athletics 3
Moneyline
The Oakland pitching situation makes for too much gray area in this match-up. PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
Although, even with its offense likely being overvalued right now. the Texas -1.5 wager becomes interesting if priced under -150.
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Over/Under
Peg Texas as being too far over its skis at its current run-scoring pace. With Eovaldi’s history against Oakland and in road starts, there is enough lean on the Rangers winning this game 5-3, 4-3 or downward from there to warrant a partial-unit play (not going all-in with the Oakland question mark) on the UNDER 8.5 (+100).
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