They’re obviously peaking far too late into the season, but the Athletics are seemingly putting the league on notice for 2026. The nomad A’s come into Friday’s tilt with the Rangers fresh off a series sweep of the Tigers and, overall, the team has won seven of its last nine.
Conversely, despite a 20-3 victory on Wednesday to continue to build on their ridiculous run differential, the Rangers remain underwhelming and completely stuck in the middle. Texas is one game above .500 coming in Friday’s action, trailing the Mariners for the final AL Wild Card spot by 4.5 contests. It doesn’t help matters that Corey Seager (abdomen) is headed back to the IL, either.
Let’s preview this divisional matchup with the help of some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Rangers vs. Athletics prediction, preview
I don’t think it’s a stretch to suggest that Jack Leiter in on the heels of the best start of his MLB career. In seven scoreless innings against the Guardians last Saturday, Leiter allowed just two hits and struck out 10. Maybe most importantly, the former second-overall pick also didn’t walk a batter. Free passes are one of the biggest reasons that Leiter’s 3.81 ERA is undercut by a 19th percentile xERA (4.74). In fact, among the 109 pitchers who have thrown at least 40 innings since the beginning of July, Leiter’s 13.0% walk rate is the highest mark in baseball. That’s just no way to live — especially when opposed by a lineup as dangerous as the Athletics’ can be.
Since the All-Star break, the A’s own MLB’s fifth-highest wRC+ at 117. They also sport the league’s third-highest ISO (.209) and they’ve hit the fourth-most home runs (58). Translation: This is the type of team that can hang a crooked number in a hurry. Shea Langeliers has made headlines during this stretch by leading the American League in long balls (17), but I still have to make Nick Kurtz the center of attention. Though Kurtz has only hit 10 homers since the Midsummer Classic, he’s slashed .394/.503/.756 in his last 155 plate appearances. You read that right. He’s reached base in over half his PAs in the season’s second-half. Wild.
Jeffrey Springs will be the one to benefit from all this potential run support on Friday night. Springs has been decent in the past month, surrendering one earned run or fewer in three of his last five starts. However, the lefty has also conceded at least one opponent home run in 11 of his past 12 outings. For 2025 as a whole, Springs has given up 25 long balls — the 10th-most in the league — and he’s struggled to a 5.19 FIP when taking the mound at the hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. Needless to say, this could be a high scoring affair.
Rangers vs. Athletics pick, best bet
Best Bet: Over 10 (-113)
Call it the Sutter Health Park special. Both of these starters are prone to opponent barrels and it screams “take the over” to me.
Strong Lean: Nick Kurtz 3+ Hits + Runs + RBI (-110)
Leiter walking Kurtz at least once is almost a guarantee, so I’ll lean towards the hits + runs + RBI market over the total bases market.
