Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Free Pick 09/20/19

Marcus Semien and the Oakland Athletics are playing host to the Texas Rangers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. NBC Sports – California will be showing the matchup and the game will get going at 10:07 p.m. ET.

Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Odds

Oddsmakers have listed Texas (+145) as the underdog to Oakland (-155). If you think the game’s total will go under 8.5 runs, bookmakers are currently offering -105 odds. Playing the over will return -115 odds. There’s a runline of Rangers +1.5 (-150) and Athletics -1.5 (+130) for this matchup.

The Rangers have gone 74-79 SU this year and are 83-70 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 6.8 units for moneyline bettors and 4.0 units ATS. Texas is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Athletics, on the other hand, are 92-61 SU and 86-67 ATS. The team has gained 25.4 units for moneyline bettors and 16.9 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.

Oakland games have an over/under record of 70-78-5 in 2019. The Rangers have also been a good under bet with a total record of 68-82-3.

Mike Minor will get the start for Texas. The southpaw Minor (13-9, 3.33 ERA) has recorded 188 strikeouts in 194.2 innings so far. He’s 0-2 with nine strikeouts and a 9.00 ERA against Oakland this year (two starts).

The Athletics are putting the ball in the hands of righty Mike Fiers (14-4, 4.09 ERA), who has 117 strikeouts and 51 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.23. Fiers is 0-0 with 13 strikeouts and a 7.82 ERA over three starts against Texas this year.

Oakland’s pitching staff has yielded 4.3 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starters have a 4.07 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.98 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 9.3 K/9. In 67 games against AL West opponents, Athletics starters have an ERA of 5.21 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.98.

Oakland’s offense is putting up 5.3 runs per outing, including 5.4 per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .218/.303/.431 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.

The Athletics’ batters have been led by shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman. Semien is hitting .283/.365/.517 with 31 home runs, 87 RBIs and 117 runs scored, and Chapman is batting .245 with 34 homers, 85 RBIs and 96 runs.

For the visiting squad, Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starters own a 5.22 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 8.33 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.62, along with a WHIP of 1.46 and a K-per-9 of 8.79.

Rangers hitters have slashed .247/.320/.428 on their way to 4.9 runs scored per game in 2019, including 5.1 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over the team’s last five contests (0-5 SU).

Elvis Andrus and Shin-soo Choo have led Texas’ offense. The speedy Andrus is hitting .272/.310/.385 with 10 home runs, 67 RBIs, 73 runs and 28 stolen bases, while Choo is hitting .264/.366/.449 with 22 homers, 57 RBIs and 85 runs scored.

The Rangers have gained 6.0 units and are 54-44 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 43 of those games, as opposed to 54 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 19.4 units and are 28-15 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in 20 of those games, compared to 21 that went under.

Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics MLB Tip

Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER