The Texas Rangers (68-46) and Oakland Athletics (32-82) wrap up a 3-game series Wednesday afternoon at Oakland Coliseum. First pitch between these division rivals is set for 3:37 p.m. ET.

Season series: Rangers lead 7-2 after a 6-1 win Tuesday

The Rangers are looking for their 3rd straight series sweep and their 9th consecutive win. Texas swept the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins in its last 2 series. The Rangers have allowed more than 3 runs in just 1 of their last 8 games and have scored at least 5 runs in 7 of those games.

The Athletics are just 2-6 in their last 8 games and are seeking to avoid being swept for the 2nd time in their last 3 series. They rank last in MLB in runs scored (407) and ERA (5.83) which explains why they’re 50 games below .500.

Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics projected starters

LHP Jordan Montgomery vs. RHP Austin Pruitt

Montgomery (7-9 3.40 ERA) makes his 23rd start. He has a 1.24 WHIP 2.6 BB/9 and 8.1 K/9 through 127 IP for the Rangers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

• Last start: Win 6 IP 2 ER 6 H 1 BB 6 K in 6-2 home win vs. Miami Marlins Friday in Rangers debut
• 2023 road stats: 2-5 3.34 ERA (56 2/3 IP 21 ER) in 10 starts
• Career vs. Athletics: 0-0 3.80 ERA (23 2/3 IP 10 ER) in 4 starts

Pruitt (2-6 3.35 ERA) makes his 6th start and 35th appearance. He has a 1.16 WHIP 1.9 BB/9 and 5.2 K/9 through 43 IP.

• Last start: No-decision 1 IP 2 ER 2 H 1 BB 2 K in 10-7 loss to Minnesota Twins on July 15
• Last appearance: 2/3 IP 0 ER 2 H 0 BB 0 K in relief in 8-6 home win vs. San Francisco Giants Sunday
• 2023 home stats: 2-3 2.82 ERA (22 1/3 IP 7 ER) in 2 starts and 16 relief appearances
• Career vs. Rangers: 1-1 3.38 ERA (16 IP 6 ERA) over 10 relief appearances

Rangers at Athletics odds

• Moneyline (ML): Rangers -275 (bet $275 to win $100) | Athletics +225 (bet $100 to win $225)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers -2.5 (-105) | Athletics +2.5 (-115)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Rangers at Athletics picks and predictions

Prediction

Rangers 7 Athletics 3

Moneyline

The Rangers are red hot right now winning each of their last 8 games 7 of which have been by at least 2 runs. They’ve outscored the Athletics 11-4 in the first 2 games of this series.

Texas (-275) should absolutely win this game but its not worth betting with such a steep price tag.

PASS.

Run line/Against the spread

The Rangers have won 4 of their last 8 games by at least 3 runs which would cover the run line in this matchup. Montgomery was great in his Rangers debut last week allowing just 2 runs in 6 innings as Texas beat Miami.

The A’s have the worst run differential in baseball and I don’t see them covering against the Rangers Wednesday.

BET RANGERS -2.5 (-105).

Over/Under

The total went Under in the first 2 games of the series but I think that trend will be snapped Wednesday. Previously the total went Over in 5 of the Rangers’ last 8 games so they’ve been putting up a lot of runs.

BET OVER 8.5 (-110).