Oakland at Texas

The Rangers have moved to within one game in the loss column of the struggling A's. The Rangers have been under the radar since mid-June, as their overall record shows a mediocre team. We have taken notice! The Rangers started 23-42, and played themselves out of the race early, but this team has been amongst the best in the AL since June 13. The Rangers have gone 43-32, and for nearly half a season have played .573 baseball, and are at their hottest point right now, winning 10 of 12. That .573 percentage plays out to a 92-win team over a full season, and the 23-42 team that began the season plays out to a 105 loss team! This is a much different team, as they have played like a playoff team for 75 games! Oakland has been just the opposite, as they opened 35-29, but have faded to a 34-44 team over their last 78, and are in a bad stretch right now as they have gone 4-9 over their last 13. We have a playoff caliber team over the last half of the season, with a favorable pitching matchup at home with even odds? No doubt where the value is here. Kason Gabbard has pitched his teams to a 10-4 overall mark, equally split at 5-2 apiece for the Red Sox and Rangers. Chad Gaudin pitched the A's to 11-3 in his first 14 starts as he posted a 2.43 ERA. The A's have since been 5-9 in his last 14 starts, and Gaudin has held a poor 5.44 ERA over this recent stretch. The Rangers make it two straight over the A's.