The Texas Rangers (67-46) and the Oakland Athletics (32-81) play the middle contest of a 3-game series at Oakland Coliseum Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Athletics odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rangers lead 6-2
The Rangers have won a season-high 7 straight games to push their lead in the AL West to 3 games over the Houston Astros. Texas has outscored the opposition 44-17 over that stretch adding to the team’s league-best +172 run differential.
The Athletics are on the flip side with the worst run differential in the majors at minus-273. Oakland is just 17-40 at home this season including 1-4 against Texas at the Coliseum. The Under is 3-2 in the 5 meetings in Oakland this season.
Rangers at Athletics projected starters
RHP Max Scherzer vs. LHP J.P. Sears
Scherzer (10-4 4.04 ERA) makes his 21st start. He has a 1.21 WHIP 2.5 BB/9 and 10.3 K/9 in 113 2/3 innings for the Rangers and New York Mets.
- Last start: Win 6 IP 3 ER 7 H 2 BB 9 K in 5-3 home win vs. the Chicago White Sox Thursday in his Texas debut
- 2023 road splits (with the Mets): 6-4 5.16 ERA (66 1/3 IP 38 ER – 19 HR) .261 opponent batting average (OBA) in 12 starts
Sears (2-8 4.07 ERA) makes his 23rd start. He has a 1.08 WHIP 2.1 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 in 121 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss 5 IP 2 ER 6 H 3 BB 5 K in an 8-2 road loss vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday
- 2023 home splits: 0-3 4.41 ERA (51 IP 25 ER – 14 HR) .234 OBA in 9 starts
Rangers at Athletics odds
Provided by BetMGM SportsbookUSA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub Lines last updated at 10:05 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Athletics +190 (bet $100 to win $190)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers -1.5 (-135) | Athletics +1.5 (+110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Rangers at Athletics picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 5 Athletics 2
Moneyline
The Rangers (-250) will cost you 2 1/2 times your potential return and that’s quite risky. Yes Texas has won 7 in a row and Oakland is awful but Scherzer has had his issues on the road and it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to iron those problems out in a new uniform.
PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
Luckily for Scherzer and his issues on the road the RANGERS -1.5 (-135) should be able to roll up plenty of offense against the southpaw Sears.
The Rangers have covered as a favorite in 6 of the 7 victories during the current streak including the 5-3 win in Monday’s series opener. With Scherzer on the bump Texas ‘should’ be the play against the awful Oakland side.
Over/Under
While Scherzer has been giving on the road this season and Sears has been giving everywhere I think the total actually comes right down on the number AVOID.
The Under is 4-1 in the past 5 games overall for the Rangers including Scherzer’s debut against the White Sox last week. The A’s have gone low in 2 of the past 3 games and 4 of the past 5 games at home. If there is a lean it’s to the Under.
For more sports betting picks and tips check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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