DTM’s Friday Night MLB Special | OAK at TEX

Oakland Athletics (2-2) at Texas Rangers (0-3)

When: 8:05 PM ET, Friday, April 7, 2017

Where: Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

America’s Bookie Line: Texas -145 Total: 9.5

TV Coverage: NBC Sports California (Oakland), FSN Southwest (Texas)

Pitching Matchup: Oak RH Raul Alcantara vs. TEX RH A.J. Griffin

By Dan Leach

Follow Dan on Twitter @DanLeach971

Many feel the Texas Rangers are going to be a playoff threat this season, but so far their 0-3 start has done nothing to make those people feel good. Now they face an Oakland team fresh off a 5-1 win over the Angels and gaining confidence as they face another AL West rival. The Rangers have the type of team that can be feast or famine offensively, but they are going to need to get things going or they could find themselves in an 0-6 hole to start the year.

The A’s are going to be an interesting team as they have some nice pieces, but overall just don’t have the horses to contend for a playoff spot. Pitchers like Alcantara could keep their head above water though and this will be a big spot for him to start his season off well in the four spot. The former Oakland A A.J Griffin had a solid year for Texas last season, despite some injury issues and is the kind of pitcher that can get off to a hot start.

Griffin and the Rangers will need it as this is about as big of a must-win game you can have early in a 162 game season. I see the Rangers offense coming to life with a big game by Odor, Andrus, and the recently signed Mike Napoli, stemming the tide and getting Texas back on the right foot.

The Rangers have been hitting some of the longest home run’s in all of MLB so far this year, although in a losing effort and look for that to continue on Friday night.  I like the value of laying the -$145 here and would even be tempted to take the Rangers on the run line as well.

7.4 DTM Bagels and Locks on the Rangers (TEX -145)

Dan Leach was the world’s first human to live under the sea for more than 60 days, created what is now used as the International Olympic Flag, was the basis of Denzel Washington’s character Frank Lucas in “American Gangster”, Is often consulted on matters of national “Sports Security”, was the first human to interview Dracula, started the American Revolution on a dare, once sat in on drums with Led Zeppelin, and is a noted expert in the field of Time Travel.