Saturday, September 17, 2016

Globe Life Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Raul Alcantara vs. Yu Darvish

The Oakland Athletics head to Globe Life Park on Saturday to take on the Texas Rangers. The probable pitchers are Raul Alcantara for the Athletics and Yu Darvish for the Rangers. The Athletics have a 66-75-5 over/under mark and a 81-65-0 run line record, meaning they cover 56% of the time. The Rangers are 78-69-0 against the run line and have a 74-65-8 over/under record. They cover the spread 53% of the time.

The Athletics head into this game with a 64-82 record, and they are 31-40 on the road. Starting pitcher Raul Alcantara has a 0-1 record with an ERA of 7.27 and a WHIP of 1.62. He has 4 strikeouts during his 8.2 innings pitched and he has given up 12 hits so far this year. He has surrendered 12.5 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 7.3. The bullpen this season has an earned run average of 4.02 and they have allowed 469 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .242 against the pen while they've been struck out 482 times and walked 173 times this year. As a unit, Oakland has given up 9.23 base hits per nine innings while striking out 7.48 hitters per nine. They are 25th in the Majors in team earned run average at 4.54. The Athletics pitchers have collectively given up 1,325 base hits and 652 earned runs. They have allowed 166 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Oakland as a pitching staff has walked 429 batters and struck out 1,075. They walk 3 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.36 and their FIP as a unit is 4.25.

As a team, Oakland is hitting .248, good for 24th in the league while putting together a .257 average on the road. The Athletics have a .396 team slugging percentage and an OBP of .305 which is good for 28th in the league. They rank 24th in baseball with 8.43 hits per contest. Danny Valencia comes into this game hitting .285 and his on-base percentage is at .343. He has 121 hits this season along with 66 runs scored and 48 runs batted in. He's struck out 103 times and has walked 35 times. Khris Davis is hitting .250 and he has an on-base percentage of .303. He has totaled 127 hits so far while scoring 78 runs and he's driven in 94. He has walked 33 times and has struck out 151 times. The Athletics have 1,231 hits, including 239 doubles and 152 home runs. They've stolen 47 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 20 times. Oakland has walked 389 times this season and they've struck out 1,019 times as a unit. They've left 941 men on base and have a team OPS of .701. They score 4.06 runs per contest and have scored a total of 593 runs so far this year.

Texas comes into this game with a 47-22 home mark and a 87-60 overall record. With an ERA of 3.28, Yu Darvish has a 5-4 record and a 1.14 WHIP. He has 103 strikeouts over the 82.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 69 hits. He has allowed 7.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.24. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.76 and they have given up 477 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .263 against the Rangers bullpen while being struck out 386 times and walking 171 times this season. As a team, Texas has allowed 9.03 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.19 batters per nine. They are 21st in the league in team earned run average at 4.41. The Rangers pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,313 base knocks and 641 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 186 home runs this year and they give up 1.3 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Texas as a staff has walked 485 hitters and struck out 1,045. They give up a walk 3.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.38 while their FIP as a staff is 4.62.

As a team, they are batting .263, good for 7th in the league while putting together a .282 average at home. The Rangers hold a .436 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .323 which is good for 15th in baseball. They rank 7th in baseball with 8.99 hits per contest. Ian Desmond comes into this matchup batting .289 and he has an OBP of .341. He has 167 hits this year along with 104 runs scored and 82 RBI. He's struck out 148 times and has walked on 42 occasions. Adrian Beltre is hitting .297 and he has an OBP of .355. He has collected 160 hits so far while he's scored 83 runs and drove in 97. He has earned a walk 45 times and has punched out 61 times. The Rangers as a unit have 1,321 base hits, including 231 doubles and 198 homers. They have 86 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 33 times. Texas as a team has walked 400 times this year and they have struck out 1,115 times. They've had 938 men left on base and have an OPS of .760. They score 4.82 runs per game and have totaled 708 runs so far this season.

Oakland Athletics Betting Trends

The Oakland Athletics are 66-75-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Oakland Athletics are 81-65-0 against the run line so far this season

Texas Rangers Betting Trends

The Texas Rangers are 74-65-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Texas Rangers are 78-69-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Oakland Athletics

09/08/16 RF Andrew Lambo Lower Body 60-day DL (7/4)
08/17/16 CF Tyler Ladendorf Wrist 15-day DL (8/17)
08/16/16 2B Jed Lowrie Foot 60-day DL (8/4); out for season
08/07/16 P Sonny Gray Elbow 15-day DL (8/7)
08/07/16 P Henderson Alvarez Shoulder 60-day DL (4/6), out for season
07/23/16 P Fernando Rodriguez Shoulder 60-day DL (7/4)
07/03/16 C Josh Phegley Knee 60-day DL (7/2)
05/11/16 P Chris Bassitt Elbow 60-day DL (4/28); out for season
05/11/16 LF Mark Canha Back 60-day DL (5/9), out for season
04/05/16 P Frankie Montas Ribs 60-day DL (2/20)
04/05/16 P Felix Doubront Elbow 60-day DL (4/4); out for season
04/03/16 2B Eric Sogard Knee 60-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 CF Sam Fuld Shoulder 60-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Jarrod Parker Elbow 60-day DL (3/13), out for season
03/31/16 P R.J. Alvarez Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

Texas Rangers

08/27/16 P Jeremy Jeffress Suspension placed on restricted list
08/24/16 P Shawn Tolleson Back 60-day DL (8/23)
08/18/16 P Lucas Harrell Groin 60-day DL (8/17)
08/15/16 RF Shin-Soo Choo Forearm 15-day DL (8/15)
07/20/16 DH Prince Fielder Neck 15-day DL (7/19), out for season

Tony's Pick: Take the Rangers

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink