The Texas Rangers take on the Oakland Athletics. Our MLB odds series has our Rangers Athletics prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Rangers Athletics.

The Texas Rangers had a very good weekend. They went into Kansas City against a tough, improved Royals team and managed to win the series, coming from two runs down in the eighth inning to scratch out a hard-fought 3-2 win in the rubber match. That's the kind of win — and weekend — Texas needed in order to remind itself that it is a good team capable of doing good things. The defending World Series champions have endured a rocky and inconsistent beginning to their season. They have endured some injuries and have also had to deal with a hitting slump from superstar Corey Seager. The pieces haven't all come together smoothly for this team. Yet, the Rangers are right there near the top in the American League West, right behind the Seattle Mariners. They are several games ahead of the 12-22 Houston Astros and — all things considered — are in a relatively good position. Crucially, the series win in Kansas City should increase this team's belief that it can replicate the results of last year's championship season. The 2023 season ended with a triumphant October, but it was a bumpy ride over 162 regular-season games. The Rangers did not dominate the regular season; maybe they are ready to take the next step in their evolution.

That last phrase — “next step in their evolution” — can reasonably apply to the Rangers' opponent on Monday night. The Oakland A's climbed to the .500 mark over the weekend before losing on Sunday to fall to 17-18. The A's came very close to being over .500 nearly six weeks into the season. Not many people expected this team would be that much better than last year's dreadfully inadquate group. The A's are a significantly better team because their bullpen has become one of the best in baseball. Mason Miller is right there alongside Clay Holmes of the New York Yankees as the best closer in the sport. If the A's get a late-inning lead, they aren't going to blow it many times. The challenge against Texas will be to win the first seven innings.

Here are the Rangers-Athletics MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Rangers-Athletics Odds

Texas Rangers: -1.5 (+116)

Oakland Athletics: +1.5 (-140)

Over: 8 (-110)

Under: 8 (-110)

How To Watch Rangers vs. Athletics

TV: Bally Sports Southwest (Rangers) / NBC Sports California (Athletics) / MLB Extra Innings

Stream: MLB.tv

Time: 9:40 p.m. ET/6:40 p.m. PT

*Watch Rangers-Athletics LIVE on fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

Why The Rangers Could Cover The Spread

The Rangers are the better team in this matchup. One important point to note is that as well as the A's have played over the past week, they did hit the jackpot in terms of their opponents. They played the light-hitting Pittsburgh Pirates — who struggled to hit Colorado Rockies pitching over the past weekend at home — and then the Miami Marlins, who traded away Luis Arraez and are unquestionably one of the five worst teams in baseball. The A's are now stepping up in weight class, and the Rangers — who have generally played well against Oakland in recent seasons — should be able to establish their superiority.

Why The Athletics Could Cover The Spread

The Rangers are a good team, but the A's actually won a road series against Texas earlier this season. Oakland pitching handcuffed Texas hitting, winning 4-3 and 1-0 in Arlington. The A's bullpen has been one of the big stories of the season. In previous years, the idea of Oakland winning against Texas in the late innings wouldn't have been realistic — at least not a majority of the time — but this year, if the Rangers aren't leading the A's through seven innings, Oakland has a good chance of winning in the eighth or ninth with Mason Miller being able to shut down Texas hitters.

Final Rangers-Athletics Prediction & Pick

The Rangers are unlikely to lose a third game to Oakland in four outings. Take Texas.

Final Rangers-Athletics Prediction & Pick: Rangers -1.5