The Yankees will look to continue their recent dominance over the Athletics, as they kick off the longest homestand of the season.
Oakland Athletics at New York Yankees
Oakland sits 7 1/2 games back of the Texas Rangers in the AL West divisional race, as they head East for a three-game set in the Bronx. The Athletics still have a legitimate shot at catching them due to a starting rotation that owns a major league-best 3.36 ERA. The club will have dramatically improve against the Yankees due to dropping five of six against them this season and 16 of the last 19 meetings overall. In winning eight of their last 12 games overall, the team now sits a game over .500 for the season (65-64, +230), while remaining in second place in the division for seven consecutive days. Oakland has posted a 13-3 record in its last 16 day games, but it’s a different story at night, compiling a 35-51 mark at night (-1,680). The Athletics are an even 13-13 in August (-20) and the total is 6-19 O/U in those games.
Athletics starting pitcher Trevor Cahill is 14-5 with a 2.43 ERA in 23 starts this season and comes in on a two-game winning streak. In those two games, he has allowed four runs (three earned) and 14 hits over 15 innings of work. The right-hander has posted a solid 6-3 record and 3.03 ERA in 12 road starts, allowing opponents to hit for a .209 combined average. He has a dominating 4-1 record and 0.92 ERA in five starts in August and is 5-2 with a 1.63 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break. He is tied for sixth in the American League with 14 wins, all of which have come since the start of May. Cahill was the losing pitcher in his only career game against the Yankees, allowing six runs and four hits over six innings of work.
New York remains even with the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East race, with Marcus Thames leading the charge offensively. He has homered five times in his past five games played, including a game-winning shot on Sunday afternoon. “I’m a power guy,” Thames said. “And it’s big for power guys – you have to get into a rhythm.” The Yankees wrapped up its six-game, seven-day road trip with an even 3-3 mark and now are set for their longest homestand of the season. The club is 24-18 since the All-Star break, including a 15-13 mark in August (-370), while the total is 12-13 O/U this month. New York has compiled an impressive 19-10 record against AL West foes this year and have won eight of its last nine home games versus tonight’s opponent.
Yankees starting pitcher Dustin Moseley is 4-2 with a 4.53 ERA in 10 games (six starts) this season, as the offense has provided 20 runs of support in helping him win back-to-back contests. In those outings, he has allowed six runs and 10 hits over 11 innings of work, but has issued six walks. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.76 ERA in six home starts, giving up seven home runs in just 28.1 frames. In eight career games (five starts) against the Athletics, Moseley has posted an even 1-1 mark and 7.02 ERA, as they are hitting for a combined .324 average.
Bettors will find that the Athletics are 10-12 as a road underdog of +100 to +125 this season (-120) and 4-8 when playing on Monday (-440). Those stats don’t exactly scream to play the Yankees due to their 3-8 mark as a home favorite of -125 to -150 (-800).
