After the Athletics lost 112 games last season, Pecota set his prediction for Oakland’s win total in 2024 at 64.8.
Twenty-five games into the season, the Athletics (17-18) are on pace for 79 wins.
It exceeded most expectations, to say the least, but not everything is perfect for a team that has won eight of its past 10 games and sits just 2.5 points out of first place in the American League West.
Let’s take a closer look at Oakland’s home division game against the Rangers on Monday night and make your selections.
Rangers vs. Athletics odds
| team | money line | run line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| rangers | -138 | -1.5 (+126) | o7.5 (-108) |
| Athletics | +118 | +1.5 (-152) | u7.5 (-112) |
Rangers vs. Athletics predictions
(9:40 p.m. ET)
Oakland’s run differential is minus-23, suggesting their record is better than their play.
The Rangers are averaging 4.69 points per game, but the Athletics are averaging only 3.54 points per game, 28 points per game this season, despite being the only team to score 20 points per game this season. is ranked first.
Both Monday’s starting pitchers, Texans’ Andrew Heaney and Oakland’s Alex Wood, have not been good this season, but I have more faith in Heaney and the Rangers’ offense.
Simply put, Wood’s normal and advanced stats are ugly.
The 33-year-old left-handed pitcher has started seven games (31 1/3 innings) and has a 6.32 ERA, giving up multiple runs in six of those games.
He’s also homered in five straight games, and his 6.10 xERA shows this is who he is this season.
Woods’ xBA (.295), hard-hitting percentage (48.0) and average exit velocity (92.1 mph) all rank in the bottom 10% in baseball.
Heaney on the other side wasn’t as good either, but in his recent starts he pitched well, giving up one run in seven innings.
The 32-year-old left-hander has started six games this season and is 0-4 with a 5.10 ERA. His 4.14 xERA isn’t great, but it does indicate more favorable results are heading in his direction.
His average exit velocity (91.5 mph) ranks in the 7th percentile, which is concerning, but Heaney’s pursuit velocity is in the 63rd percentile, so perhaps he’s forcing Oakland’s batters to venture outside the zone. You will be able to do it.
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Rangers vs. Athletics picks
Both starters are far from elite, so I was initially hoping for an over on that, but I don’t trust Oakland’s offense. Also, the Coliseum isn’t necessarily for pitchers.
Let’s take the example of the Rangers, who have a superior offense and starting pitching in this game.
