The Oakland Athletics are set to face off against the Texas Rangers in Arlington with both teams sporting matching records of 15-14. Jacob Lopez will make his first start for the Athletics against the seasoned Jacob deGrom, who is looking to improve after a rocky start to the season. The A's clinched game one of the series with a narrow 2-1 victory, showcasing a strong pitching performance by JP Sears.

The matchup features Lopez, who holds a pristine 0.00 ERA in a limited role this season, against deGrom's 3.33 ERA. The odds reflect the Rangers as favorites at -205 on the moneyline, while the total runs are set at 8.0. Recent trends indicate the A’s have a solid record against AL opponents, showing potential for an upset.

The 2025 fantasy baseball landscape is shifting as the first month of the MLB season wraps up, with several top prospects making their mark. Agustín Ramírez has emerged as a standout, quickly showcasing his talent after debuting with the Miami Marlins. Nick Kurtz also received a call-up, solidifying the need for fantasy owners to pay attention to rookie performances.

As we approach the Super-2 threshold, expect more exciting promotions. Among the ranked prospects, Roman Anthony and Bubba Chandler are poised to impact fantasy rosters soon. Jacob Misiorowski from the Milwaukee Brewers has been impressive, boasting a low ERA despite some walk issues, while Marcelo Mayer is heating up for the Boston Red Sox, posting extraordinary offensive numbers. Keep an eye on these prospects to optimize your fantasy rosters.

Nick Kurtz and Sandy Alcantara are two players evaluating their fantasy outlooks in 2025. Kurtz, a recent debutant for the Oakland Athletics, possesses significant power potential but currently struggles with a high strikeout rate and limited MLB experience. His past performance in the minors was impressive, yet his current stats suggest he requires further development. Meanwhile, Alcantara, the 2022 Cy Young winner, faces a disappointing season, with a high ERA and decreased strikeout rates due to lost efficacy in his pitches. Despite these struggles, his historical pedigree warrants patience from fantasy managers, although the surrounding team context complicates his prospects.

The Texas Rangers have made significant adjustments to their batting lineup in hopes of reversing their recent struggles, particularly against left-handed pitchers like JP Sears. The team's recent approach has only yielded slight success, scoring just two runs in several games following a lineup overhaul.

In their latest game, the Rangers opted for a lineup that emphasizes hitters like Kevin Pillar and Kyle Higashioka, both of whom have performed well against lefties this season. Despite this, middle-order hitters Adolis García and Jake Burger are experiencing slumps, prompting further lineup changes. The Rangers aim to break their run scoring drought as they confront Sears, who has historically dominated them on the mound.