Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 7-22-2022

AL West rivals will begin a three-game series on Friday night at RingCentral Coliseum with the Texas Ranges visiting the Oakland Athletics. Texas played a lone game against the Miami Marlins, winning 8-0 on Thursday to cash in as a +118 underdog and improve to 42-49 on the season. Oakland owns a record of 33-62 after splitting a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday including a 5-0 win in the nightcap as a -162 favorite.

The Rangers hold a healthy 7-3 head-to-head advantage in the 2022 season series. Oakland hasn't dropped a season series to Texas since 2016.

One of the bright spots this season for the Rangers has been starting pitcher Jon Gray, who continued his impressive recent form to help Texas start the second half with a win in Miami on Thursday. Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim and Adolis Garcia all hit RBI singles in the third to get Texas rolling, and Garcia blew it open with a two-run homer in the fifth.

Gray threw six scoreless frames, allowing just four hits and two hits while striking out five. Elier Hernandez and Leody Tavares both recorded RBI doubles late in the game to give the Rangers some insurance.

“That takes a load of stress off me, when we’re able to put like two or three runs on early,” Gray said to MLB.com. “That kind of put me in another mode — it was a good thing. It was more like, ‘OK, let's go out here and give it six or seven great innings.’”

Texas remains down narrowly on the money line for the season while going a strong 53-37 on the run line. Overs are 42-44-4 for the Rangers, with seven of their last 10 games going over the betting total.

The Rangers rank just outside the top 10 in the Majors at 4.51 runs per game on a .698 combined OPS. Texas pitching has been the weakness with a 4.10 collective ERA including a mark of 3.71 out of a decent bullpen.

All-Star Corey Seager turned in a strong first half after joining Texas last winter in free agency, posting an .804 OPS with 22 homers and 52 RBI. Tavares has been mashing in 30 games since getting called up with a .341/.367/.553 line, five stolen bases and 15 driven in.

Spencer Howard is set to make his seventh appearance and fifth start of the season, having struggled so far with a 1-1 record and 6.97 ERA across 20.2 total innings. The 25-year-old pitched last Saturday against the Seattle M ariners, allowing two runs on five hits and five walks while striking out three across 20.2 total innings.

Utilityman Brad Miller hit the IL on Thursday with a strained neck, joining outfielder Eli White (wrist surgery) and catcher Mitch Garver (flexor tendon surgery). Starting pitcher Dane Dunning has a shoulder impingement. Reliever Joe Barlow is sidelined by a blister.

  
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