The Rangers have a seemingly insurmountable lead in the AL West division, but tonight’s opponent looks to start chopping it down in Arlington.
Oakland Athletics at Texas Rangers
Oakland opened up its 10-game road trip in Cleveland and missed an opportunity to collect a sweep with a 3-2 loss on Thursday night. “We’ll get on the flight and go get ‘em on Friday,” manager Bob Geren said. “We have to be ready.” The Athleticis have won six of their last nine games overall and are 22-17 since July 10, which is the fourth-best record in the American League over that span. The starting staff has been key in the team’s success over the last 18 games, allowing three earned runs or less and tossing six innings in all of those contests. The club fell a game below .500 in August with last night’s loss (11-12, -190) and is 35-47 overall during the month the past three seasons (-560). Oakland has produced a winning 19-18 record against divisional opponents in 2010, but has gone 68-83 versus Western foes over the last three campaigns (-1,060).
Athletics starting pitcher Brett Anderson is 3-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 11 starts this season and the club has dropped three straight games with him on the hill. In those contests, the offense has managed to provide just five runs of support, while he has given up six runs (five earned) and 20 hits over 20 innings of work. His run support of 2.57 runs per game is the lowest in the American League. The left-hander is 1-2 with a 2.77 ERA in five road starts, managing to not surrender a home run in 26 frames. He will be making his sixth start since returning from the disabled list on July 30, posting a 1-3 mark and 3.34 ERA. Anderson made all four of his career starts versus the Rangers last season, going an even 1-1 with a 4.03 ERA.
Texas has won four of its last five games overall and 11 of 15 at home since the All-Star break. The team failed to complete a four-game sweep of the Twins, dropping a 6-4 contest on Thursday night in Arlington. The Rangers still remain 8 1/2 games in front of tonight’s opponent in the American League West. One thing to consider tonight is the fact the club hasn’t dropped consecutive home games since the break and is 42-24 in Arlington in 2010. Texas is an even 6-6 versus Oakland this season, including a 4-2 mark at home. The Rangers have won five of the last eight overall meetings and this will be the last time the Athletics visit in 2010. It’s important to note that the club is just 21-19 versus southpaw starters this season (-340) and 71-78 in this spot the last three seasons (-1,220).
Rangers starting pitcher Tommy Hunter is 10-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 15 starts this season and the team has alternated wins and losses over his last three outings. He is coming off 6-4 road victory against the Orioles on August 22, allowing three runs and five hits over eight innings of work. The right-hander has a perfect 6-0 record and 3.10 ERA in eight home starts, but has still given up nine home runs in just 49.1 frames. In his last start in Arlington, he lasted just three innings and gave up four runs on six hits, but the team captured a 10-9 slugfest over the Red Sox. His .750 winning percentage in Texas is the highest ever by a starting pitcher with a minimum of 15 decisions (12-4). In three career outings versus the Athletics, Hunter is 2-0 with a 6.00 ERA.
Bettors will find that the Athletics have dropped six straight games as a road underdog and the under is 13-3-1 in this exact situation for the club. Texas has produced a dominating 16-2 mark in Hunter’s last 18 starts as a favorite and the over is 3-1-1 in his last five outings in Arlington.
