MLB Predictions: A’s vs Yankees Lines
The New York Yankees host the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday evening in the second game of a three-game set in the Bronx. The Athletics took the opener in the series on Tuesday in extra innings by a score of 5-2.
Oakland Athletics (36-22) at New York Yankees (29-28)
Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Venue: Yankee Stadium
City: Bronx, New York
O/U Odds: 9
Money Line: Oakland -127, New York +117
Pitching Matchup: RH Jesse Chavez (4-3, 2.78 ERA) at LH Vidal Nuno (1-2, 5.48 ERA)
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The Athletics came from behind to take the opener in 10 innings. Brandon Moss hit a home run in the top of the 10th innings, then Jed Lowrie doubled in a run and scored himself to add some insurance.
The Yankees hope for a better outcome on Wednesday when they send out Vidal Nuno. Nuno is basically serving as a placeholder for now as the team waits for the return of Michael Pineda. He’s run hot or cold in his eight starts this season.
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In his last outing, Nuno appeared to be in line to reel off his third consecutive quality start before the Twins got a feel for the long ball. Minnesota took Nuno long three times in that one, and the lefty came away allowing four runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Nuno has surrendered at least one home run in each of his last six starts at the bandbox that is Yankee Stadium, and that could pose a real problem for him against an Athletics team that can go deep with regularity.
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The Athletics counter with Jesse Chavez, who has been a real pleasant surprise for the team this season. Effectively coming over to the team as a failed reliever, Chavez has found success this season as a starter. He’ll now need to show that he has the ability to overcome some adversity as he takes to the hill coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
Chavez has had some tough luck in his last two starts. Pitching in Toronto against a red hot Blue Jays team, Chavez surrendered only two earned runs, but another pair of unearned runs helped the Jays to a 5-2 win.
In his last start, Chavez recorded a quality start against the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers, surrendering three runs on eight hits in six innings of work, but the Tigers came away with a 5-4 win.
Run support shouldn’t be an issue for Chavez in this one, so if he can muster together another quality start, he should be able to get back into the win column.
The Athletics are the better team in this matchup and hold an edge in the pitching matchup in this one. The betting public loves the Yankees and that typically means value in fading them, and things are no different here.
MLB Prediction
The Athletics are 5-1 in Chavez’s last six road starts, while the Yankees are 0-4 in Nuno’s last four home starts.
The play: Oakland -127
