Why the Rangers on Wednesday at -110...This is a great spot to back the Rangers as they are fighting a home sweep while the Athletics use Wednesday as a get-away day as they look ahead to their next series against the Astros IN Houston. The A's will send Kendall Graveman to the hill who is bringing an 0-4 record into tonights game to match his 10.08 era through 22 innings where he has allowed 35 hits on 7 BBs, 16 Ks and an astounding 7 HRs. Looking into Graveman's last start, he posted a .429 BABIP against to match his soft contact % of 7% (season low) and a hard contact % of 47% (season high). Graveman has an average BABIP against of .373 through his first five starts which doesn't bode well for him tonight going on the road against a lineup that he is exposed to. Already on the young season, Graveman has a 12.28 road era through two starts where he has allowed 13 hits over 7 innings on 6 BBs, 8 Ks and 2 HRs. When looking at Graveman's 2017 numbers, he saw his road era rise to 6.39 where he allowed 43 hits over 38 innings on 6 HRs compared to his 2.94 era at home. This Rangers lineup has a combined 148 ABs off of Graveman with a .291 BA/.327 OBP and 4 HRs. The Rangers will be starting Doug Fister who is coming off of a nice start against the Angels at home. In that start as a +120 dog, Fister allowed 3 runs through 5 innings on 5 Ks and 0 BBs. In Fisters two home starts this season against the above average offenses of the Angels and Astros, Fister posted a 3.60 era through 10 IP on 3 BBs, 8 Ks and 1 HR. We like Fister in this spot tonight as he has seen his BABIP against drop in his last two starts as well as his hard contact % drop in each of his three starts. The A's have a combined 126 ABs off of Fister with a .270 BA/.307 OBP and 4 HRs. From a bullpen standpoint, we will fade the A's pen who had to be used in higher leverage situations Tuesday to protect their 3-2 win.
Play on the Rangers at -110
Play on the Rangers at -110
