<p>
What goes up usually comes down and that's what the Rangers are experiencing, heading into the opener of a four-game AL West series with the A's out in Oakland. How are we playing this game with our free MLB pick?
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<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
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<p>
Thursday's MLB betting odds opened Oakland at around -180 over Texas, with an over/under of 9.5 runs. Early betting action then dipped that line about a dime, to around -170.
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<h2>
Rangers vs. A's Set-Up<br />
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<p>
Texas just dropped two of three games in Seattle, losing Wednesday's series rubber match 5-3. Just before that, the Rangers got swept three games by Houston, and in the series prior to that, that they got swept two games by Arizona. So Texas is 0-3 over its last three series and 1-9 over the previous ten games.
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<p>
At 51-51 overall the Rangers now trail the division-leading Astros by 14 games in the AL West, and they're 6.5 games behind the Athletics in the battle for the second AL wild-card spot.
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<p>
Oakland, meanwhile, just dropped two of three games in Houston, losing Wednesday's series rubber match 4-2. But just before that the A's split four games with Minnesota, and just before that they swept two games from the Mariners. Going back a bit further Oakland is 6-1-1 over its last eight series and 17-7 over its previous 24 games.
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<p>
At 58-45 overall the A's trail Houston by 7.5 games in the AL West but they also own the No. 2 slot in the American League wild-card standings.
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Oakland leads the season series with Texas six games to three.
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<h2>
Thursday's Starting Arms<br />
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<a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/39875&quot; title="Bret Anderson Pitching Logs">Lefty Anderson</a>, by our strict standards, is 10/20 on quality starts this season and three for his last four. Last Saturday he gave up three runs and four hits, including three solo homers, through six innings of a 5-4 A's victory over the Twins. And over his last four starts, he's allowed seven runs and 18 hits through 26 2/3 innings.
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Oakland is 14-6 with Anderson this season, 4-0 over his last four starts.
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<p>
In two starts this season against the Rangers Anderson gave up six runs – five earned – and ten hits through 12 1/3 innings. The A's split those two games.
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<p>
<a href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/pitcherlog/187622&quot; title="Ariel Jurado Pitching Logs">Jurado </a>is just 3/11 on quality starts this year and 0 for his last three. Last Saturday he gave up five runs and eight hits through five innings of a 6-1 Texas loss to the Astros. And over his last three starts, he's allowed 16 runs and 22 hits through 15 innings.
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The Rangers are 4-7 with Jurado this season, 0-3 over his last three starts.
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In two appearances against Oakland last year Jurado got nicked for nine runs and 14 hits through 6 1/3 innings.
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<h2>
Thursday's Batting Splits<br />
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Texas is batting .234/.301/.422 against left-handed pitching this season. This lineup could also be without Joey Gallo (22 HR) as he deals with a sore wrist.
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Oakland is batting .241/.319/.430 against right-handed pitching this season.
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<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
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The Rangers bullpen owns a 4.80 ERA this season and a 1.45 WHIP while allowing an .806 OPS.
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The A's pen owns a 3.86 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP while allowing a .702 OPS.
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<h2>
Totals Report<br />
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Unders are 52-48 in Rangers games this season.
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Unders are 54-49 in A's games this season.
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Unders are 27-24 in games played at Oakland Coliseum this season.
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Overs are 6-3 in Rangers-A's games this season.
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Unders are a combined 18-13 when Anderson and Jurado start this season.
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<p><section></p>
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1080963">Rangers at A’s MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
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