The Texas Rangers host the Athletics on April 28, 2025. First pitch from Globe Life Field on Monday is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on NBCS-CA.
The AL West doesn't have a clear favorite. Just one game separates the Athletics and Texas Rangers, who sit in fourth and second place, respectively. This series could have long-lasting implications, as the division figures to be tight till the finish.
Find my Athletics vs Rangers prediction for Monday night below.
My Athletics vs Rangers Prediction
- Athletics vs Rangers picks: Athletics ML -110 (play to -130)
My Athletics vs Rangers best bet is the A's moneyline. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Athletics vs Rangers Odds
| Athletics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +153 | 9.5 -104 / -117 | -110 |
| Rangers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -184 | 9.5 -104 / -117 | -110 |
Athletics vs Rangers Projected Starting Pitchers
| Patrick Corbin (TEX) | Stat | JP Sears (ATH) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-0 | W-L | 3-2 |
| 0.0 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.4 |
| 3.77/4.91 | ERA /xERA | 3.21/3.83 |
| 5.41/4.26 | FIP / xFIP | 4.11/4.36 |
| 1.53 | WHIP | 1.11 |
| 7.9% | K-BB% | 14.7% |
| 41.7% | GB% | 36.5% |
| 95 | Stuff+ | 99 |
| 103 | Location+ | 107 |
Sean Paul’s Athletics vs Rangers Preview
Rangers Betting Preview
Who is this man pitching for the Rangers and what happened to the REAL Patrick Corbin? Over the last four seasons, Patrick was the absolute worst pitcher in baseball. It’s been a bit different in Corbin’s first year in Texas, though
Patrick has certainly been a bit lucky. He boasts a 3.77 ERA with a 4.92 xERA and 5.40 FIP. I’m less of the belief that Corbin discovered the fountain of youth and more that he’s pitched decently in 14 ⅓ innings.
The one thing that makes me sure the Corbin implosion looms is his strand rate. There's been no shortage of traffic, as Corbin's WHIP sits at 1.53, but he's leaving 89.9% on base. While impressive, it's a wholly unsustainable figure and over 20% better than he did last year.
Moreover, Corbin’s stuff is still very mediocre. In the past four years, he hovered around an 84-94 Stuff+ rating and currently has a 95 Stuff+.
Through the first month of the year, the Rangers rank 18th in MLB with an 87 wRC+ against lefties. They also strikeout over 25% of the time and have just two hitters with a wRC+ above 75 (Wyatt Langford and Kevin Pillar). The high-priced middle infielders, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien can’t touch southpaws this year. To be fair, Semien is hitting a jaw-dropping .146 this year and still bats fifth every game, so he's turned into an absolute dead spot in the lineup.
Athletics Betting Preview
Don’t look now, but the Athletics offense is one of the more exciting, young offensive teams in baseball. It doesn’t matter if the Athletics are facing a lefty or righty; they rake regardless.
They are especially dangerous against lefties, ranking fourth in MLB with a 131 wRC+ versus LHP. Five Athletics lineup regulars have a wRC+ above 150 against lefties, led by JJ Bleday dropping some lefty-lefty crime with a 230 wRC+.
I think the Athletics' offense is legit and here to stay. They rank top seven in home runs (37), isolated power (.178), wRC+ (115) and strikeout rate (19%). It's pretty rare for an elite power-hitting team to also have one of the lowest strikeout rates in MLB. But that's what makes the Athletics different.
The real difference-maker in the Athletics lineup is Jacob Wilson. If you want to take a minute and look at Wilson’s baseballsavant page, I highly suggest you do. He ranks in the 98th percentile or better in four categories — xBA, Squared up%, Whiff rate, and K rate. His plate coverage and ability to take pitches can ruin a pitcher's evening.
On the Athletics side, they'll send JP Sears to the mound. The 29-year-old southpaw faced the Rangers in his last outing, pitching 5 1/3 innings with five hits and two runs. Sears will look to confuse Rangers hitters with his funky arm angle that tends to make his 93 mph fastball look a bit harder. Like Corbin, Sears is also pitching above his talent level, boasting a strong 3.21 ERA, but his 3.86 xERA and 4.11 FIP point to slight regression.
Athletics vs Rangers Prediction, Betting Analysis
I don't love Sears, but I trust him more than Corbin. While a great start from Sears is adjacent to six innings with one or two runs, his floor is much higher than Corbin's.
I'm not of the archaic belief that pitcher wins and losses matter. However, Corbin's case is different. He lost 13+ games in four straight years and won 10 or more just once. Perhaps being on the Rangers, who are a much better team than the past 2021-24 Nationals, is what Corbin needs to win more games.
In this spot, I have to back one of the two offensive teams in baseball against a fade-worthy pitcher. The Rangers struggles to hit lefties are well-documented, as I mentioned earlier. Everything points in the Athletics direction.
Pick: Athletics ML -110 (play to -130)
Moneyline
Go with Athletics' Moneyline.
Run Line (Spread)
I will not be betting on either side of the spread.
Over/Under
I'm also staying away from game totals.
