After a sluggish start to the regular season, the Texas Rangers may have finally found their groove. They seek their fourth win in a row and seventh in the last nine as they continue their four-game set with the Oakland A’s.
Oakland, who rode a six-game win streak to hit .500 for the first time all season, has now lost two straight, including the series opener against Texas on Monday.
The Athletics are listed as are +118 moneyline underdogs in the MLB odds. We break the matchup down below and share our best Rangers vs. Athletics predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, May 7.
Rangers vs Athletics prediction
My best bet
Under 8 (-106 at FanDuel)
My analysis
It’s taken a while for the Texas Rangers’ bats to warm up, but the pitching has carried them during this recent hot streak. In Texas’ last six wins, it’s allowed three runs or less five times, including Monday’s 4-2 victory over the Oakland A's.
Over the last week, Texas’ staff is tied for fourth in baseball, allowing teams to hit just .204 while posting a 0.95 WHIP.
The Rangers may be fifth in total hits, but they’re outside the Top 10 in on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS. They make up for it with timely hitting: Texas is second in the bigs with a .294 average with runners in scoring position.
That’s the polar opposite from the A’s, who currently sit third in the AL West, looking up at both the Mariners and Rangers. Oakland is hitting a paltry .212 with runners in scoring position, a Bottom 5 ranking in baseball.
During its recent six-game fun run, Oakland put up at least four runs in five of them. However, in each of its last 10 losses, the Athletics have put up three runs or fewer in each, as they sit 26th in the majors in runs scored at 3.5 per contest.
The head-to-head Monday was the fourth straight time the Under cashed, and the eighth time in the last 10. The pitching matchup could be conducive to another low-scoring affair.
Oakland’s Ross Stripling may be 1-5, but after five straight L’s to start the year, the A’s have won in each of his last two starts. Last time out, Stripling gave up no runs on three hits over six innings of work to beat the Pirates for his first win of 2024.
Texas' probable starter, Jose Urena, would be making his first start of the season, though he’s appeared in relief in 10 games. He hasn’t surrendered an earned run in five straight appearances.
Rangers vs Athletics same-game parlay (SGP)
After a rough 0-for-5 effort in Texas’ 4-2 win on Monday, leadoff man Marcus Semien is probably thankful to see Stripling on the bump.
While it’s only an 11 at-bat sample size, Semien has the second-most AB’s of the Rangers against the veteran righty and is hitting a crisp .455 against him with one RBI. Of his five hits, three of them have gone for doubles. I like the matchup, and Semien’s ability to pick up two total bases on Tuesday.
Abraham Toro is right back to being a hit machine for the Athletics. He bounced back from an 0-for-5 effort to go 3-for-4 against the Rangers in the series opener.
Oakland’s team leader in hits and average has now posted multi-hit games in five of his last six, and Toro has at least a hit in nine of his last 10 overall.
It doesn’t matter who’s pitching, Toro is red-hot.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Rangers vs Athletics odds
Rangers vs Athletics live odds
Rangers vs Athletics opening odds
- Run line: Texas -1.5 | Oakland +1.5
- Moneyline: Texas -123 | Oakland +113
- Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Rangers vs Athletics spread and Over/Under analysis
- Texas has been the moneyline betting favorite in 10 straight vs Oakland, winning six of those games.
- Oakland has won seven of its last 10 games.
- The Rangers have gone Under the total in five of their last six games.
Rangers vs Athletics trend
The Athletics have hit the Over in 48 of their last 84 games (+9.75 Units / 10% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Athletics
Rangers vs Athletics game info
Location: | Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA |
Date: | Tuesday, 5-7-2024 |
First pitch: | 3:37 p.m. ET |
TV: | MLBN |
Rangers starting pitcher: | Jose Urena (0-2, 4.35 ERA) |
Athletics starting pitcher: | Ross Stripling (1-5, 4.24 ERA) |
Rangers vs Athletics latest injuries
Rangers vs Athletics weather
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