The Oakland Athletics will be glad to be back home after a grueling road trip against two powerhouses, the Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros. Tonight they will open a 4-game set against the reeling Texas Rangers at the Coliseum. The Rangers have lost 9 of their last 10 and will send the struggling Ariel Jurado to the hill. Jurado is 5-6, with a 4.92 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, and over his last 3, he is winless with a 9.60 ERA. Texas is 1-5 in Jurado’s last 6 turns and 0-4 in his last 4 starts against the AL West. Despite going 3-4 in their recent road trip, the A’s are still 15-6 in their last 21 overall and will have the reliable southpaw, Brett Anderson, on the rubber tonight. Anderson has a mark of 9-5, with a 3.82 ERA, and a 1.27 WHIP. The Athletics are 4-0 in Anderson’s last 4 turns and 8-3 in his last 11 starts at home. Oakland has dominated Texas this year, taking 6 out of 9 from them, and winning all 3 meetings against them at the Coliseum. Texas woes continue.
TONIGHT’S PICK: OAKLAND ATHLETICS