Game: Texas Rangers @ Oakland Athletics
Time: 9:40 p.m.
Odds: Rangers -215, Athletics +194
Total: 8.5
When the Texas Rangers visit the Oakland A’s to begin a three-game series on Monday, they will be going for their seventh straight victory. The Rangers recently completed a perfect homestand with a 6-0 victory over the Marlins, capping off back-to-back three-game sweeps of the visiting Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins. Their six-game winning streak is the longest in MLB right now.
However, the cost of the victory was high. When Josh Jung, an All-Star third baseman, fielded Jorge Soler’s 110 mph line drive in the sixth inning, he fractured his left (non-throwing) thumb. He’ll be assessed and he will remain out of the Rangers lineup indefinitely. Jung, 25, is tied for the most hits (117) and leads major league rookies in home runs (22) and RBIs (67). He’s also tops In runs (70) and extra-base hits (47) in the American League.
The Rangers might also be without All-Star shortstop Corey Seager on Monday. Seager missed Sunday’s game due to a persistent thumb injury that he sustained on July 21. He is not currently listed on the injury report.
The Rangers are 20 games over .500 and in first place in the American League West despite not having a winning season since 2016. Their 66 victories rank third-best in the AL. The A’s, on the other hand, have a major-league-low 32 wins and have lost five of their seven games this year against the Rangers. Oakland has a major league-worst home record of 17-39 this season. The A’s did, however, beat the visiting San Francisco Giants in a two-game series.
On Monday, the Rangers will start pitcher Dane Dunning (9-4, 3.14 ERA). The right-hander just had one of his season’s best starts. In 7.1innings, he limited the visiting Chicago White Sox to one run on three hits and a walk while recording a career-high 11 strikeouts in an 11-1 victory. Dunning has faced the A’s six times, including five starts, in his career. In 24.2 innings, he is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA. Along the way, he walked 13 batters and struck out 23.
Oakland responds with left-handed rookie Ken Waldichuk (2-7, 6.52), who has both started and relieved this year. His most recent outing was a start last Tuesday. He lost to the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 7-3 after giving up four runs on one hit, three walks, and five strikeouts. In his lone appearance this season against the Rangers, the left-handed Waldichuk struggled. On May 12, he pitched five innings, surrendering four runs (three earned), seven hits, and five walks. He was not involved in the decision.
In his career against Texas, Waldichuk has made two starts. He has pitched 10 innings total. His ERA is a whopping 7.20 with 11 strikeouts and six walks. The A’s have lost five of Waldichuk’s last six starts. He’s only pitched past the fourth inning in one of those last six and four of the six ended up with the total going Over.
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