FRANK’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR FOR FRIDAY, 8/14:

My “Cutting Room Floor” plays are the situations I considered the closest to being worthy of investment but did not make the “final cut” for my official plays today for subscribers. The last play I cut for Friday is with the Texas Rangers with the money-line versus the Athletics listing both starting pitchers Kumar Rocker and Gage Jump. Texas (60-62) has lost three games in a row after their 7-0 loss on the road in Los Angeles against the Angels on Thursday. The Rangers have won 8 of their last 12 games after allowing six or more runs in their last game. They have also won 16 of their last 26 games against teams with a losing record. The Athletics (47-74) have also lost three games in a row after their 7-4 loss at home against Tampa Bay on Wednesday. They stay at home where they have lost 14 of their last 17 games. They have also lost 17 of their last 25 home games against teams with a winning record. Take Texas with the money-line listing both starting pitchers. Best of luck — Frank.
 
Frank Sawyer’s Hollywood Sports is on a 21 of 33 (64%) MLB run with featured 25*/20*/10* plays that fuels their 41 of 68 (60%) MLB winning streak with featured plays! Frank is also on an 11 of 17 (65%) MLB TOTALS TEAR — and now he furthers his 9 of 13 (69%) MLB Game of the Month/Year Over/Under run with a 25* MLB Divisional Total of the Month for Friday night! DO NOT MISS OUT!

At 9:40 PM ET on Friday, we will be playing Over the Total in the game between the Texas Rangers (973) and the Athletics (974). THE SITUATION: Texas (60-62) has lost three games in a row after their 7-0 loss in Los Angeles against the Angels on Thursday. The Athletics (47-74) have lost three games in a row as well after an 8-4 loss at home against Tampa Bay on Wednesday. 

REASONS TO TAKE OVER THE TOTAL: The Rangers have not scored more than two runs in three straight contests — but they have then played 6 straight Overs after failing to score more than three runs in two or more games in a row. They have played 11 of their last 13 games Over the Total after a loss by six or more runs. Additionally, they have played 7 of their last 10 games on the road Over the Total after losing two or more games in a row. Texas stays on the road where the Over is 15-10-1 in their last 26 games. They give the ball to Kumar Rocker, who has a 4-9 record with a 4.46 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 22 appearances (20 starts). The deeper sabermetrics call for regression. His expected ERA (xERA) from Statcast, which incorporates exit velocity and hard-hit rate into the otherwise fielding-independent data, sits at 4.66. In his two starts this month, he has been saddled with a 9.72 ERA and a 2.52 WHIP. He now faces a hot-hitting Athletics team that ranks eighth and 12th in MLB in weighted On-Base Average and weighted Runs Created at home against right-handed pitchers. The Athletics have scored at least four runs in five straight games. The Over is 8-1-1 in their last 10 games after losing their last game — and they have played 22 of their 35 games at home this season Over the Total after losing their last contest. They have played 13 of their last 19 home games Over the Total after losing two or more games in a row. Furthermore, the Athletics have played 6 of their last 8 games Over the Total after scoring at least four runs — and the Over is 6-0-1 in their last 7 games after allowing at least six runs in their last contest. They return home, where they have played 6 straight Overs — and they have played 19 of their last 30 home games Over the Total when priced in the +/- 125 price range. They have also played 26 of their last 35 home games against right-handed starting pitchers. They counter with Gage Jump, who has a 5-7 record with a 4.46 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP in 14 starts. The southpaw has been saddled with a 6.76 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP in his last eight starts. He has been less effective at home, where he has a 6.16 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP in eight starts, as opposed to his 2.60 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in six starts on the road. 

FINAL TAKE: The Rangers have played 23 of their last 35 games Over the Total. They rank sixth and fifth in MLB this season in weighted On-Base Average and weighted Runs Created against left-handed pitchers — and they rise to number one in both those categories since May 1st. 25* MLB AL West Total of the Month is with Over the Total in the game between the Texas Rangers (973) and the Athletics (974). Best of luck for us — Frank.