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From Globe Life Field in Arlington, we have the Athletics and Rangers facing off in an AL West matchup. First pitch for Sunday’s matchup is set for 2:35 PM ET, and NSPCA is carrying this one on TV.
The over/under line is at 9 runs, and the Rangers are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -131 compared to the Athletics at +110. Mitch Spence is starting for the Athletics, and he is facing off against Walter Pennington. Pennington and the Rangers are 64-72, while the Athletics are 59-77 overall.
Oakland vs. Texas Key Information
- Teams: Athletics at Rangers
- Where: Globe Life Field Arlington
- Date: Sunday, September 1st
- Betting Odds TEX -131 | OAK +110 O/U 9
The Athletics Can Win If…
Mitch Spence gets the start for the Athletics today as he faces the Rangers on the road. So far this season, he has made 18 starts and three of them have been quality starts. Spence’s record for the season is 7-9, and his ERA is 4.54. Looking back at his last outing, Spence finished with a no-decision against the Reds. In that start, he went 5 1/3 innings, giving up one earned run on five hits. Before that outing, he had given up at least four earned runs in three straight starts. So far, he has a 7.13 ERA on the road compared to 3.9 at home.
For the season, the Athletics are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 25th in the league. As a team, they are batting just .233, but they do come into the game with the 5th most home runs in the league. Oakland’s offense has been slightly better at home, averaging 4.2 runs per game.
Over his last eight games, Lawrence Butler has been on fire, going 13/34 with seven homers and 12 RBIs. This has helped him move into the team’s home run lead. Brent Rooker has also been swinging a hot bat of late, as he is on a four-game hitting streak and is batting .289 for the season.
- The Athletics are 5-5 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Athletics are 5-0 vs. the run line.
- Oakland has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
- The Athletics have an average of 6.8 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten road games, the Athletics are 7-3
- Looking back across the Athletics last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
- Oakland has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Athletics have averaged 6.0 runs per game on offense
The Rangers Can Win If…
Left-hander Walter Pennington gets the start for the Rangers today vs. the Athletics. He has made eight appearances this season and has a record of 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA. Pennington has a WHIP of 1.89. In his one start, he went just one-third of an inning and gave up one earned run. Pennington has finished with a no-decision in each of his last four outings. His ERA at home is 9.0 compared to 0.75 on the road. So far, he has allowed one homer and is averaging 11 strikeouts per nine innings.
Corey Seager has been swinging a hot bat of late for the Rangers, going 7/18 in his last four games with a home run and three RBIs. For the season, Seager is batting .275, which is the best mark on the team, and his 30 homers are the best mark in the lineup and 6th in the league. Adolis Garcia is 2nd on the team with 21 homers but is batting just .221 so far this season.
As a team, the Rangers are averaging 4.1 runs per game and are 23rd in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in several key offensive categories, including on-base percentage, OPS, and isolated power. Texas does come into the game with a few hitters on solid streaks, as Carson Kelly and Nathaniel Lowe are both on five-game hitting streaks.
- The Rangers are 6-4 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Rangers are 1-4 vs. the run line.
- Texas has an over/under record of 3-7 in their last ten games.
- The Rangers have an average of 2.8 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten home games, the Rangers are 5-5
- Looking back across the Rangers last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
- Texas has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Rangers have averaged 4.5 runs per game on offense
A’s and Rangers Set for Rubber Match as Season Winds Down
As the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers gear up for the rubber match of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon in Arlington, Texas, both teams find themselves reflecting on a season of contrasting expectations and outcomes.
Surprising Standings and Diverging Fortunes
Who would’ve thought it? The Athletics, who were practically the underdogs of 2022 with 112 losses, are now just five games behind the reigning 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers in the American League West. This narrowing gap highlights a season full of surprises—Oakland’s unexpected rise and Texas’ fall from grace.
For the A’s, it’s a sign of growth and potential. For the Rangers, it’s a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change.
Saturday Night’s Drama and Offensive Struggles
Saturday night’s game was nothing short of dramatic, with the Rangers (64-72) pulling off a 3-2 win thanks to Leody Taveras’ clutch bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth. But let’s be real—Texas has been struggling offensively. They’ve managed to score just 16 runs in their last six games, even though they’ve won four of them.
“It’s all about playing hard for nine innings, and we did that,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s our style now. … We like to put up some big numbers, but that really hasn’t happened for the most part this year.”
The game underscored Texas’ difficulties with timely hitting. Taveras’ game-winner was their only hit with runners in scoring position all night.
Oakland’s Late-Season Surge
Meanwhile, the A’s (59-77) are wrapping up their season with a bang. Since the All-Star break, Oakland has gone 22-16 and boasts one of the most powerful offenses in the league with 175 home runs this season—ranking fifth in the majors.
They’ve won four of their last six games, and 24-year-old outfielder Lawrence Butler has been leading the charge. Butler has been on fire, smashing six homers in his last five games, including his 20th of the season on Saturday.
“The way he’s swinging the bat right now, he’s pretty locked in,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after the game. “It doesn’t seem to make a difference if it’s a left-handed or right-handed pitcher. The swing he put on that ball to hit that line drive out of the ballpark was pretty impressive.”
Pitching Matchup for the Rubber Game
Sunday’s game will feature a couple of rookies on the mound. The A’s will send right-hander Mitch Spence (7-9, 4.54 ERA) to start. Spence is coming off a solid performance against Cincinnati, where he allowed just one earned run over 5 1/3 innings but didn’t factor into the decision.
On the other side, the Rangers will counter with left-hander Walter Pennington (0-0, 3.00 ERA), who will be making his first major league start. Pennington has made seven relief appearances this season, and on Friday, he pitched a third of an inning in Texas’ 9-2 loss.
Roster Moves
Both teams made some roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game. The Rangers called up infielder Justin Foscue and right-hander Chase Anderson from Triple-A Round Rock, while right-hander Dane Dunning was sent down to Triple-A. The A’s claimed right-handed reliever Janson Junk off waivers from the Houston Astros.
Game Outlook
As the A’s and Rangers face off in this series finale, both teams are looking to close out the season on a high note. For Oakland, it’s about building momentum and showcasing their young talent, while Texas aims to finish strong despite a season that hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. Sunday’s game will be a test of both resolve and a glimpse into what the future might hold for these two teams.
The Lean
Today’s game between the Athletics and Rangers has the 7th highest combined run projection and 5th highest home run projection. We are leaning towards the Rangers to pick up the win, and we are also leaning towards the over. Oakland’s offense has the 9th highest team hits projection, but Walter Pennington has the lowest individual hits allowed projection among today’s starters.
