Texas Rangers vs Oakland Athletics Prediction, 8/6/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Texas Rangers vs Oakland Athletics

Date: Friday, August 6, 2021

Location: RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, CA

TV: NBC Sports California

Odds/Point Spread: Texas (+245) Oakland (-345)

RingCentral Coliseum is the site where Chris Bassitt and the Oakland Athletics (61-48, 2nd in AL West) will take on the Texas Rangers (39-69, 5th in AL West) on Friday. The Rangers open this matchup at +245 while the Athletics are priced at -345. The O/U is set at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers are Mike Foltynewicz and Chris Bassitt.

The Rangers have hit 133 doubles as a squad and have smacked 119 balls out of the park. Texas has a slugging percentage of .373 and have been called out on strikes 943 times, while drawing a walk on 309 occasions. As a squad, the Texas Rangers are earning 3.9 runs per game, which puts them at 28th in MLB. They have compiled 393 runs batted in and 793 base knocks for the year, while their team batting average is .225. They have notched a total of 412 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .294.

Get all of our MLB Expert Picks

The Rangers have a team ERA of 4.73 on the year (24th in the league), and their staff has rung up 843 hitters. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.52 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.35. Rangers pitchers have allowed 150 home runs and 531 total runs (25th in baseball). Their pitching staff has walked 335 players from the other team and their FIP sits at 4.62 as a team on the season.

Rangers relief pitchers have entered the game with runners on 94 times as well as having 87 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have tallied 37 holds this season (30th in the league). The Rangers relievers have accumulated a save percentage of 55.9% and has entered the game in 72 save situations. They have accumulated 19 saves on the year and have blown 15 of their 34 chances to save the game. The relief pitchers have inherited 147 runners on the campaign with 36.7% of those players ended up scoring. The Rangers have dispatched 323 relief pitchers to the hill this season.

The Rangers have turned 69.2% of balls hit into play into outs in their 8,451 innings, which has them sitting at 20th in the majors. The Texas Rangers have a tally of 2,817 putouts thus far, as well as 981 assists and 59 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .985 which has them sitting 10th in MLB, and have earned 783 double plays.

Foltynewicz (46-52 career mark) has earned a FIP of 4.61 and he has gone up against 3,429 batters in the majors. He has allowed 794 base hits (9.0 hits per nine innings) and has 267 free passes. His earned run average is 4.56 (404 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.331. Foltynewicz has pitched in 797 innings and has racked up 733 K's during his MLB career.

The Oakland Athletics have an OBP of .312 and a team batting average of .233 on the year. They have been called out on strikes on 937 instances (16th in the league) and have a total of 832 hits. Oakland has compiled 132 home runs on the campaign as well as 438 RBIs. The Athletics hold a slugging percentage of .402 and they score 4.35 runs per game (18th in the league). They have 179 doubles, while getting a free base 361 times as well as racking up 470 runs.

The Athletics hold a team WHIP of 1.217 with a FIP of 3.85 as a pitching staff so far this season. They are currently ranked 17th in MLB as a staff in total hits given up with 876. The Oakland pitching staff have allowed 425 runs for the season and come in with a team ERA of 3.70 (393 earned runs yielded). They have earned a K/BB ratio of 3.16 (909 strikeouts against 288 walks). They have allowed 115 long balls and they allow 4.00 runs per 9 innings (6th in baseball).

Oakland relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 34.7% out of their 118 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have come in 89 times in high leverage situations and on 82 occasions with runners on base. Sitting with 87 save situations, the Athletics have tallied 46 holds and 15 blown saves. They are ranked 11th in the league with a save percentage of 63.4%, and they have sent 319 bullpen pitchers to the mound over the course of the season. Oakland has called on relief pitchers to step onto the hill in 41 save chances and they have walked away with 26 saves.

The Oakland Athletics have twisted 77 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .988 (2nd in baseball). The Athletics have racked up 859 assists, 45 errors and are sitting with 2,870 putouts this year. Out of their 8,610 innings played, the Athletics have a defensive efficiency of 70.2% (9th in MLB).

Bassitt (30-24 career record) has earned a 3.51 ERA while surrendering 8.1 hits per nine innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.80 and he has faced 2,266 batters in his pro baseball career. He has conceded 209 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.220 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.9. So far in his career, Bassitt has surrendered 480 base hits while earning 484 K's in 535 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Texas (+245)

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