Upcoming Match-ups

Rangers vs Athletics Odds, Betting Lines, and Picks (Sep. 11)

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in MLB Baseball

Updated Sep 10, 2021 · 8:33 PM PDT

Matt Chapman home run
Oakland Athletics' Matt Chapman hits a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
  • The Athletics are -180 home favorites over the Rangers on Saturday
  • The Athletics’ Cole Irvin (9-13, 4.10 ERA) faces fellow lefty Kolby Allard (3-12, 5.00 ERA)
  • Odds and analysis can be found below with a prediction

The Oakland Athletics look to keep pace in the American League Wild Card race when they host the last-place Texas Rangers at 4:07 pm ET Saturday at RingCentral Coliseum.

The three-game series opened Friday night and the Athletics entered 1.5 games back of the New York Yankees for the AL’s final playoff berth. Oakland had won back-to-back games following a four-game losing streak.

Despite being stuck in the AL Central basement, the Rangers rode a four-game winning streak into Oakland. That tied Texas’ longest this season but the Rangers are decided underdogs in this game.

Rangers vs Athletics Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total
Texas Rangers +155 +1.5 (-130) Over 8.5 (-110)
Oakland Athletics -180 -1.5 (+110) Under 8.5 (-110)

Odds as of September 10th at DraftKings.

The Athletics opened as a -170 moneyline favorite and the line has moved upward slightly. A high temperature of 70 degrees is forecast with cloudy skies and a light and variable wind.

Probable Pitchers

In a matchup of left-handers, Kolby Alard (3-12, 5.00 ERA) will pitch for the Rangers against Cole Irvin (9-13, 4.10 ERA).

Allard has lost two starts, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in 11.2 innings. He is also 1-10 with a 5.91 ERA in his last 14 starts.

Allard vs Irvin

Kolby Allard
VS
Cole Irvin
3-12 Record 9-13
5.00 ERA 4.10
5.04 xERA 5.00
1.21 WHIP 1.30
3.6 SO/W 3.1

His last time out on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Allard was touched for four runs (three earned) in 5.2 innings, while allowing four hits and one walk and striking out four.

The Rangers are just 3-14 when Allard starts – though they have won two of his last five — and he has had just six quality starts in 17 tries. Allard began the season by posting a 3.15 ERA in 10 relief appearances and has gone 2-12 with a 5.40 ERA in 17 starts since being moved to the rotation May 27.

He does show occasional flashes of brilliance, though.

Allard is 1-5 with a 5.36 ERA in 13 road games (eight starts) and 2-4 with a 5.02 ERA in nine day games (seven starts).

This will be Allard’s fifth start against the Athletics this season and he has a 1-3 record with a 5.18 ERA. In six career starts versus Oakland, Allard has gone 1-5 with a 6.45 ERA.

Allard’s lone career appearance in Oakland was June 30 and he surrendered three runs in six innings to take the loss.

Irvin has struggled lately, going 0-2 with an 11.70 ERA in his last three starts. He was rocked by the Blue Jays on Sunday at Toronto, getting pummelled for seven runs and eight hits in 2.1 innings with two strikeouts and no walks.

Irvin will try to bounce back by becoming amphibious.

In his first full MLB season as a starter, Irvin has registered 13 quality starts in 27 turns. The Athletics have gone 13-14 when he is on the mound.

Irvin has made 13 home starts with a 4-6 record and a 3.93 ERA. He is 4-8 with a 4.64 ERA in 15 starts during the day.

All four of Irvin’s career starts against the Rangers have come this season and he has split them with a 4.50 ERA.

Can’t Figure Out Culberson

Look for utility player Charlie Culberson to be in the Rangers’ starting lineup. He is 7 for 13 (.538) off Irvin with a double.

However, Irvin has held catcher Jose Trevino hitless in six at-bats.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

Rangers Batters Batting Average vs Irvin
Nathaniel Lowe 1.000
Charlie Culberson .538
Yonny Hernandez .500
Yohel Pozo .500
Jason Martin .333
Adolis Garcia .200
DJ Peters .200
Isiah Kiner-Falefa .100
Jose Trevino .000
Nick Solak .000
Jonah Heim .000
Athletics Batters Batting Average vs Allard
Sean Murphy .444
Jed Lowrie .375
Matt Chapman .364
Matt Olson .333
Starling Marte .333
Elvis Andrus .222
Chad Pinder .167
Mark Canha .125
Skye Bolt .000
Khris Davis .000
Yan Gomes .000
Tony Kemp .000

Athletics catcher Ryan Murphy is 4 for 9 (.444) with a home run against Allard and second baseman Jed Lowrie is 3 for 8 with two homers.

Oakland activated reserve first baseman/outfielder Seth Brown from the COVID-19 injured list before Friday’s game. He had been out since Aug. 24.

Rangers vs Athletics Pick

Prior to Friday, the Athletics led the season series 9-7 and had won four of six games at the RingCentral Coliseum. Oakland also holds a commanding 53-30 advantage over the Rangers since the start of the 2017 season.

This pitching matchup does not inspire much confidence in either side. Allard’s troubles against the Athletics are significant, though, so let’s fade him.

The Pick: Athletics -180

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