Oakland at Texas – Parlay the Over and the A’s

A’s Look To Continue Beat-down On Struggling Padilla

The Oakland Athletics (7-11 SU, 9-9 RL, 10-8 O/U) and Texas Rangers (10-10 SU, 10-10 RL, 11-7-2 O/U) will each be looking to record an SU and RL victory in the BetOnline Sportsbook when they square off at Rangers Ballpark tonight at 8 PM ET.

Texas won its second consecutive game on Tuesday, beating the A’s 5-4 on Nelson Cruz’s RBI-single in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Rangers won as -145 home favorites while the final score played under the 10-run O/U total.

Tonight, the A’s will hand the ball to left-hander Josh Outman (0-0, 5.23) who will make his seventh career start and third this season. Outman has thrown two scoreless innings out of the bullpen since making his last start on April 17 when he allowed up five runs in four innings in an 8-5 win at Toronto.

The Rangers will counter with veteran right-hander Vicente Padilla (1-1, 8.27 ERA) who has been smacked around hard all season long, allowing at least three runs in each of his four starts this season including allowing four runs in 6.2 innings in the Rangers’ 5-4 win over Baltimore on Friday.

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and MLB Free Pick.

• The Athletics are 13-6 in their last 19 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• The Athletics are 20-42 in their last 62 games as a road underdog.
• The Rangers are 4-0 in Padilla’s last 4 Wednesday starts.
• The Rangers are 10-2 in Padilla’s last 12 starts vs. American League West.
• The Over is 4-1 in Padilla’s last 5 starts vs. Athletics.
• The Rangers are 7-2 in Padilla’s last 9 starts vs. Athletics.
• The Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
• The Athletics are 3-10 in the last 13 meetings in Texas.

MLB Odds:

• Oakland A’s +1½ -170
• Josh Outman –L +120
• Texas Rangers -1½ +150
• Vicente Padilla –R -140
• Over 11 -105
• Under 11 -115

Analysis: With two mediocre starting pitchers taking the hill in this one, I think the Over is the best play for this matchup.

Vicente Padilla has been a batter’s best friend in the early going of the 2009 season while A’s hurler Josh Outman hasn’t been much better.

I like the Over to play out and the Rangers to cover the Run Line by pushing for the outright win behind Padilla.

MLB Free Picks: Over 11 Total Runs/Oakland A’s +1½ Runs