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Rangers vs. Athletics Preview (April 13, 2026): Prediction, Lineups, and How to Watch
Introduction: A Battle of .500 Teams
The Texas Rangers (8-7) and the Athletics (8-7) kick off a four-game series today at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California.
Both teams enter the matchup with identical records, but their paths to get here could not have been more different.
The Rangers are coming off a much-needed bounce-back win, while the Athletics bring one of the hottest streaks in baseball into tonight’s opener.
How the Rangers Got Here
Texas avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers by taking Sunday’s finale 5-2.
The hero of that game was Jacob deGrom. After allowing a leadoff home run to Shohei Ohtani, deGrom settled down and dominated. He struck out nine batters over six innings and kept baseball’s most dangerous lineup in check the rest of the way .
Evan Carter added a home run, and Brandon Nimmo continued his scorching start at the top of the order. Nimmo went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, pushing his season average up to .367 .
The Rangers have now won four of their last six games, climbing back above .500 after an uneven start to the season.
The Athletics Are Red Hot
While the Rangers are playing well, the Athletics are playing elite baseball.
Oakland enters tonight on a five-game winning streak. Here’s how they got there:
| Opponent | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| New York Yankees | Won 2 of 3 | Competitive series against AL powerhouse |
| New York Mets | Swept 3 games | Three consecutive wins at Citi Field |
The A’s pitching has been the driving force behind this run. During the five-game winning streak, Oakland has thrown three shutouts .
On Sunday, the Athletics beat the Mets 1-0. Starter Aaron Civale held New York to just four hits over five scoreless innings, and the bullpen completed the shutout by keeping the Mets hitless the rest of the way .
Tonight’s Pitching Matchup
| Team | Starting Pitcher | Record | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Rangers | Nate Eovaldi (RHP) | 1-2 | 7.98 | 19 |
| Athletics | Luis Severino (RHP) | 0-1 | 5.40 | 17 |
Nate Eovaldi’s Roller Coaster Season
Eovaldi is coming off his best start of the year. Last week against a struggling Seattle Mariners lineup, he limited them to two runs over six innings .
But before that outing, Eovaldi struggled significantly. In his two prior starts, he surrendered 11 runs and 16 hits over just 8.2 innings .
The question tonight: Which version of Eovaldi shows up?
Luis Severino’s Command Issues
Severino has had two decent starts this season, giving up two runs over five innings in each. However, he was roughed up by the Atlanta Braves in between.
The bigger concern for Severino has been command. In his last two outings, he walked five batters in each game while striking out only seven total .
If Severino cannot find the strike zone, the Rangers’ lineup — which has started to heat up — could make him pay.
Starting Lineups
Texas Rangers (8-7)
| Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brandon Nimmo | RF |
| 2 | Evan Carter | CF |
| 3 | Corey Seager | SS |
| 4 | Jake Burger | 1B |
| 5 | Joc Pederson | DH |
| 6 | Kyle Higashioka | C |
| 7 | Josh Jung | 3B |
| 8 | Josh Smith | 2B |
| 9 | Ezequiel Duran | LF |
Starting Pitcher: Nate Eovaldi (RHP) — 1-2, 7.98 ERA, 19 strikeouts
Athletics (8-7)
| Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lawrence Butler | RF |
| 2 | Nick Kurtz | 1B |
| 3 | Shea Langeliers | C |
| 4 | Tyler Soderstrom | LF |
| 5 | Jacob Wilson | SS |
| 6 | Jeff McNeil | 2B |
| 7 | Max Muncy | 3B |
| 8 | Carlos Cortes | DH |
| 9 | Denzel Clarke | CF |
Starting Pitcher: Luis Severino (RHP) — 0-1, 5.40 ERA, 17 strikeouts
Prediction
The Athletics have the edge tonight.
Oakland enters on a five-game winning streak with elite pitching. The Rangers, meanwhile, are starting Nate Eovaldi, who has been inconsistent at best this season.
If Severino can manage his command issues, the A’s should extend their streak to six games.
Final Score Prediction: Athletics 5, Rangers 3
How to Watch Rangers vs. Athletics
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, April 13, 2026 |
| First Pitch | 9:40 PM Eastern / 8:40 PM Central / 6:40 PM Pacific |
| Venue | Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California |
| TV (Local) | Rangers Sports Network (Texas), NBC Sports California Plus (Northern California) |
| Streaming | MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers) |
Streaming Options
- For Rangers fans in North Texas: The game is available on Fubo’s main packages. New users can start with a free trial to test the service. Cancel anytime if it doesn’t fit your needs.
- For Athletics fans in Northern California: Access the NBC Sports California Plus stream through a Hulu + Live TV subscription. A free trial is also available for new users.
Quick Facts Summary
| Category | Rangers | Athletics |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 8-7 | 8-7 |
| Last Game | Won 5-2 vs. Dodgers | Won 1-0 vs. Mets |
| Current Streak | Won 1 | Won 5 |
| Starting Pitcher | Nate Eovaldi (1-2, 7.98) | Luis Severino (0-1, 5.40) |
| Key Hitter | Brandon Nimmo (.367) | Shea Langeliers |
