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The Coach's Free Play
(MLB) Texas vs. Oakland,
Money Line: -147.00 Oakland (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -147.00 Oakland (Home)
Result: Loss
The Texas Rangers finished last in the American League in 2014, and they finished at the bottom of the Cactus League standings this spring. They were completely shut down by Sonny Gray on Opening Day, managing just one hit in an 8-0 loss to Oakland. I can't see any reason to expect Texas to get a positive result on the road here just 24 hours later.
Here are my keys to the game:
1. Pitching - With Yu Darvish done for the year, the pitching situation in Texas isn't pretty. Colby Lewis will be on the mound Tuesday, and he was hit hard in spring training. Lewis was 0-2 with a 9.74 ERA, surrendering 13 runs on 21 hits over 12 innings pitched. The A's will counter with Jesse Hahn, who was fantastic in Cactus League play.
2. The Bullpens - Texas relievers were responsible for exactly half of the eight runs Oakland scored last night. The Rangers had one of the worst bullpens in baseball last year, while he A's relievers posted the third best ERA in the majors (2.91).
3. X-Factor - Lewis actually has good career numbers versus Oakland, but the A's new additions have all hit him well, as Ben Zobrist, Brett Lawrie and Billy Butler are all averaging better than .300 against Lewis.
Selection: This is a play on the Oakland A's
Here are my keys to the game:
1. Pitching - With Yu Darvish done for the year, the pitching situation in Texas isn't pretty. Colby Lewis will be on the mound Tuesday, and he was hit hard in spring training. Lewis was 0-2 with a 9.74 ERA, surrendering 13 runs on 21 hits over 12 innings pitched. The A's will counter with Jesse Hahn, who was fantastic in Cactus League play.
2. The Bullpens - Texas relievers were responsible for exactly half of the eight runs Oakland scored last night. The Rangers had one of the worst bullpens in baseball last year, while he A's relievers posted the third best ERA in the majors (2.91).
3. X-Factor - Lewis actually has good career numbers versus Oakland, but the A's new additions have all hit him well, as Ben Zobrist, Brett Lawrie and Billy Butler are all averaging better than .300 against Lewis.
Selection: This is a play on the Oakland A's