The Oakland A’s Matt Olson swings for a tenth inning double that scored runs for a walk off two bagger against the San Diego Padres on Wed Aug 4, 2021. Olson leads the A’s for average at .277 as the A’s host the Texas Rangers Fri Aug 6, 2021 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Oakland A’s (61-48) host the Texas Rangers (39-68) and regardless where the Rangers are in the standings they always seem to be up for Oakland the A’s did take two out of three from the Rangers the last time the two clubs met Jul 9-11.

#2 Previous to the Jul 9-11 match up in Texas the Rangers took two out of three from the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum Jun 29-Jul 1. So you never know how a series with the Rangers will turn out.

#3 The Rangers and A’s open a four game series starting on Friday night the A’s top hitters Matt Olson .277, Jed Lowrie .259, Mark Canha .256, and Tony Kemp .251 can provide some offense. Matt Olson certainly did with a 10th inning double against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday afternoon.

#4 The Rangers top hitters Adolis Garcia .254, Isiah Kiner-Falefa .253, Willie Calhoun .254, and Nate Lowe .249, the Rangers last in the AL West struggling having won four of their last ten games.

#5 The Rangers will start Mike Foltynewicz (2-10 ERA 6.00) he’ll be matched up against the A’s starter Chris Bassitt (11-3 ERA 3.28) a 6:40pm first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum.

Join Jerry for the Oakland A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com