Texas (51-51) at Oakland (58-45)
When: Thursday, July 25th, 2019
Where: Oakland Coliseum,
Oakland, CA
Time: 10:07 ET | TV: FS Southwest,
NBCS California
Opening Odds: Oakland -180/9.5
The Oakland Athletics return from a brutal road trip to play the first of nine games at home starting Thursday night against AL West rival the Texas Rangers. Oakland’s homestand will also include six games against National League Central contenders Milwaukee and St. Louis, but first up is a struggling Texas team. The A’s went 3-4 on their seven game road trip against division leaders Minnesota and Houston, but are still very much alive for a wild card spot. As of Thursday night, Oakland is one game clear of Tampa Bay for the second spot in the American League and two behind Cleveland for the first wild card. The Astros took two of three from Oakland this week and remain 7.5 games ahead of the A’s in the division. Oakland has won six of nine meetings with the Rangers, including all three at home. Texas has been really struggling after getting close to Houston in the standings, losing nine of its last 10 games including two of three at Seattle. Rougned Odor went 7-for-12 with four homers in that series with seven RBI and six runs scored. Rangers OF Joey Gallo, who leads the club with 22 homers, could be headed to the injured list due to a wrist injury.
Pitchers: Rangers – Ariel Jurado (5-6, 4.92 ERA) | Athletics – Brett Anderson (9-5, 3.82)
Ariel Jurado will appear in his 22nd game – 12th start – on Thursday and has not been very good overall while getting progressively worse over the last few outings. Jurado has an 8.31 ERA in July after allowing five runs and eight hits in five innings at Houston on Saturday. He has not faced the A’s this season but was hit hard in two appearances in 2018, posting a 12.79 ERA while taking the loss in both outings.
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Brett Anderson leads the staff with nine victories but is coming of a pair of no-decisions despite quality starts in each. He served up three solo homers among four hits over six innings in a 5-4 at Minnesota last time out. Anderson is holding Texas to a .204 batting average this season in two starts after a no-decision on June 7th.
This game could get ugly. The Rangers are a mess right now and couldn’t even win a series against the lowly Mariners. The A’s return home where they are 31-20 on the season and 3-0 against Texas, outscoring them 23-11 in a three-game sweep back in April.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Thursday. He is 98-66 +2118 units on the season after an 12-5 run!
Pick: A’s -1.5 +103
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BETTING TRENDS:
Rangers are 4-0 in their last 4 Thursday games.
Rangers are 16-35 in their last 51 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Rangers are 6-20 in their last 26 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Rangers are 2-8 in their last 10 road games.
Rangers are 1-5 in their last 6 during game 1 of a series.
Rangers are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. American League West.
Rangers are 1-8 in their last 9 overall.
Rangers are 1-8 in their last 9 games on grass.
Rangers are 0-6 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Rangers are 4-0 in Jurado’s last 4 Thursday starts.
Rangers are 2-5 in Jurado’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Rangers are 1-4 in Jurado’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Rangers are 1-5 in Jurado’s last 6 starts.
Rangers are 1-5 in Jurado’s last 6 starts on grass.
Rangers are 0-4 in Jurado’s last 4 starts vs. American League West.
Athletics are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Athletics are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. American League West.
Athletics are 52-17 in their last 69 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Athletics are 20-8 in their last 28 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Athletics are 20-8 in their last 28 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Athletics are 7-3 in their last 10 during game 1 of a series.
Athletics are 7-3 in their last 10 Thursday games.
Athletics are 37-18 in their last 55 games on grass.
Athletics are 39-19 in their last 58 overall.
Athletics are 63-31 in their last 94 home games.
Under is 4-0 in Rangers last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-0 in Rangers last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 5-1 in Rangers last 6 road games.
Under is 4-1 in Rangers last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Rangers last 5 on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Rangers last 5 vs. American League West.
Under is 5-2 in Rangers last 7 Thursday games.
Under is 12-5 in Rangers last 17 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 4-1 in Jurado’s last 5 starts on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Jurado’s last 5 starts overall.
Over is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 vs. American League West.
Under is 6-2 in Athletics last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 10-4 in Athletics last 14 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
Under is 9-4 in Athletics last 13 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Oakland.
Over is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings.
Rangers are 11-27 in the last 38 meetings.
Rangers are 7-19 in the last 26 meetings in Oakland.
