The weekend series opener at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 24, 2026, features an American League West battle between the Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers. This matchup showcases two veteran right-handers with significant playoff experience, yet both have struggled with consistency in the early months of the 2026 campaign. For bettors, this game hinges on which version of these high-velocity arms shows up in Arlington.
The Pitching Breakdown
Luis Severino (ATH): Severino’s first season in Oakland has been a rocky transition. Entering this start with an 0-2 record and a bloated 6.20 ERA, the right-hander is fighting to find the command that once made him an All-Star. In his last outing on April 18, he labored through 5.1 innings, surrendering five runs on five hits and four walks. While his strikeout numbers remain respectable (27 Ks in 24.2 innings), his 1.70 WHIP indicates a pitcher who is living too much in the heart of the plate. Severino already faced this Texas lineup on April 13, where he allowed four earned runs over six innings, including two home runs.+2
Nathan Eovaldi (TEX): Nathan Eovaldi is searching for the rhythm that made him a World Series hero. Through five starts, he carries a 5.06 ERA, though his 1.54 WHIP suggests he has been victimized by a few high-variance innings. Interestingly, Eovaldi’s best performance of the season came against these very Athletics on April 13, when he tossed seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. He followed that up with a struggle against Seattle, giving up four runs in five innings. Eovaldi remains a “power pitcher” who relies on his splitter to put hitters away, and he will look to repeat his mid-April dominance against an Oakland lineup that leads the league in strikeout rate against right-handed velocity.+2
Best Bets for April 24
1. Texas Rangers Moneyline (-150) The Rangers have a clear psychological and statistical edge. Eovaldi’s previous dominance over Oakland just 11 days ago cannot be ignored. While Severino has the raw stuff to keep games close, his current lack of command against a patient Texas lineup—which ranks in the top five for walks drawn—is a recipe for a short outing. With the Rangers playing in front of their home crowd, they are the safe play to take the series opener.
2. Over 8.5 Total Runs (-112) Despite Eovaldi’s success against Oakland previously, both starters have surrendered at least one home run in four of their five starts this season. Globe Life Field is a neutral park, but the combination of Severino’s high WHIP and Eovaldi’s recent “blow-up” innings against the Mariners suggests a game where the offenses will have their say. Expect a 6-4 or 7-3 result as both bullpens have been heavily used this week.
3. Nathan Eovaldi Over 6.5 Strikeouts (+110) The Athletics’ lineup continues to be a “whiff-heavy” unit. Eovaldi has cleared this 6.5 mark in three of his five starts this season, including his seven-K performance against Oakland earlier this month. At plus-money, you are betting on Eovaldi to exploit the same aggressive swing-and-miss tendencies he saw from the A’s in their first meeting.
The Sharp Edge: Watch Luis Severino’s velocity in the first inning. If he is sitting at 94-95 mph rather than 97-98 mph, the Rangers’ middle order, led by Corey Seager, will have a massive timing advantage on his secondary pitches.
Baseball Best Bets 