Rangers vs Athletics Odds, Betting Lines, and Picks (Sep. 11)
- 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
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.
1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣
Kolby Allard strikes out the side in the 4th!@Rangers | @KolbyAllard | #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/ARNxIR7xUe
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) June 5, 2021
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.
"Trying to be a Goldfish."
Cole Irvin discussed how he'll move on from his rough outing Sunday pic.twitter.com/KDdchKq6Rw
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) September 5, 2021
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.
Jed Lowrie, FTW! #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/lXoMG0OS8L
— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2021
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