Texas at Oakland

Oakland got rid of a lot of their star players as they always do, but Billy Beane also always comes up with some good young players to replace them, and the Athletics are off to an 8-6 start after winning six of their last nine games, including 6-4 over the Orioles on Thursday. Sean Murphy homered, doubled, and drove in three runs for Oakland, which now faces the Rangers, who have lost five of their last six. Texas had scored only nine runs in four games before beating Seattle, 8-6, last night. The Rangers are in last place in the AL West with a 2-9 record, and they have lost 38 of 56 following a win. Also, they are 18-41 in their last 59 games after scoring five or more runs in their previous game. Oakland is 39-19 in the last 58 meetings. The wrong team is favored in this matchup. Take the Athletics.