Texas Rangers (51-88) vs. Oakland Athletics (75-64)
September 10, 2021 9:40 pm EDT
The Line: Oakland Athletics -222 / Texas Rangers +160; Over/Under: -8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics meet Friday in MLB action from O.co Coliseum. The Rangers are coming off a pair of games versus the Diamondbacks, winning both matchups. As for the A’s, they played the White Sox this week. Oakland split the first pair in that set, then on Thursday the A’s took the series with a two-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Texas was able to handle the Diamondbacks this week, winning 3-1 on Tuesday and 8-5 in the Wednesday game. In that matchup, Rangers starting pitcher Kohei Arihara put up 4.2 innings with two earned on four hits and two walks.
For the starter gig in the Friday game, the Rangers will send out Glenn Otto. In his two starts so far this year Otto has a 1.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings of work.
Over on the A’s side, they lost 6-3 to the White Sox on Tuesday but managed a 5-1 win in the Wednesday game two. In the Thursday rubber match, Oakland powered out a 3-1 win. Starter Sean Manaea put up 7.0 innings with one earned on five hits and one walk.
Starting pitcher for the A’s on Friday will be Paul Blackburn. Over his 19.2 innings this year Blackburn has 24 hits, nine earned runs, four homers allowed, four walks, 12 Ks and a 4.12 ERA.
The Rangers are 17-35 in their last 52 in game one of a series and 16-35 in their last 51 overall. Texas is 16-35 in their last 51 versus the AL West and 6-20 in their last 26 Friday games.
Meanwhile, the A’s are 35-17 in their last 52 Friday games and 1-4 in their last five in game one of a series. Oakland is 1-4 in their last five versus the AL West and the over is 3-0-1 in their last four in game one of a series.
PICK: I’m going to stick with Texas. Blackburn had a bit of a sketchy start versus Toronto his last time out, posting 3.2 innings with four earned on nine hits and three homers. Prior to that, Blackburn had five earned in a 16.0-inning span over three starts. As for Otto, he’s done pretty well over his first pair, with two earned in 9.2 innings. I like another good outing from Otto here in a Rangers victory.
