#911/912 ASA PLAY ON Over 9.5 Runs – Texas Rangers vs Oakland Athletics, Thursday at 2:35 PM ET - Expected starters are Jon Gray for the Rangers and JP Sears for the Athletics.  There is a reason this total is the biggest number on the board today (along with Mets/Braves) as it is set at 9.5 runs.  Even though Oakland, surprisingly, has a low bullpen ERA early this season, their WHIP of 1.28 is a more true picture of how they have been performing. That WHIP ranks their bullpen in the middle of the pack in the majors along with the Rangers who have a 1.26 WHIP.  Looks like beautiful weather for baseball in Arlington today and the hitters should enjoy a big day at the plate as both starting pitchers are struggling badly early this season.  A key metric to look at with pitchers is strikeouts and both these starters are not only struggling in terms of hits allowed, they are also giving up plenty of contact.  Their strikeout numbers are down (especially Sears) and, each pitcher in each of their starts, has struggled.  Gray has a 6.14 ERA  and Sears has an 8.68 ERA and that is over two starts each and none of these 4 outings was impressive.  Although Oakland lost 6-2 yesterday, the A's did have 9 hits and this followed Oakland having scored at least 4 runs in each of their 4 road games on the season.  So Oakland has been swinging decent lumber this season and Texas is known for hitting well at home. Their .293 batting average in home games ranks 4th in the majors this season.  They also finished 4th in the majors last season for home batting average and, as a host they had the #1 slugging percentage (.495) in the American League last year!  Texas has a .459 mark so far this season with their slugging percentage at home and that ranks 2nd in the AL.  Over is the call in this one Thursday afternoon.