Friday MLB Baseball Picks: Athletics vs Giants
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MLB Betting – Athletics vs Giants Preview & Pick
Date: May 20, 2011
Venue: AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
Broadcast: CSCA, KNTV
Oakland Athletics at San Francisco Giants Betting Lines from BetOnline.com
Money Line: Athletics -103
Over/Under: 6.5 (-110)
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Oakland Athletics (22-21 through May 18)
Trevor Cahill (6-1, 1.82)
The Oakland A’s seem to be using their buddies from across the Bay as a success model, relying almost entirely on pitching, and it’s sort of working. They lead the majors with an outstanding 2.68 team ERA and 30 quality starts in 43 games.
There’s been no one better for them than Trevor Cahill. Wasn’t his 18-8 season a year ago supposed to be his outlier or at least his peak? He’s allowed one run or fewer in seven of nine starts this season while significantly upping his strikeout rate.
The A’s downfall, however, is clearly their hitting. Coco Crisp is the only qualifier on their team hitting above .259.
San Francisco Giants (23-19 through May 18)
Ryan Vogelsong (3-0, 2.36)
It’s a strange coincidence to see the cross-Bay rivals approaching the game so similarly. The Giants also depend on their arms to succeed and the breaks have gone the defending champs’ way more or less this season. Unlike the A’s, San Francisco at least has a chance to bounce back offensively. Pablo Sandoval will return from injury eventually and Buster Posey should heat up, too.
It seems like any guy who toes the rubber for San Fran posts sparking numbers. Ryan Vogelsong has excelled as a back-of-the-rotation filler throwing 12 scoreless innings for two victories over his last three starts.
MLB Trends:
OAK are 7-2 in their last 9 games following a loss.
Over is 8-3-1 in Cahills last 12 starts on grass.
OAK are 25-10 in Cahills last 35 starts.
SF are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. American League West.
SF are 9-3 in their last 12 overall.
SF are 9-3 in their last 12 games on grass.
OAK are 4-10 in the last 14 meetings.
Under is 12-5-3 in the last 20 meetings.
The pick:
Vogelsong might be able to sustain his hot streak a little longer. He hasn’t allowed a run over 9.2 innings at AT&T Park this season and he has just two walks over his last two starts. Cahill is due to allow some runs; he’s allowed seven or more hits in three of his last five starts. Maybe Posey can lead the charge; he bats .307 against righties this season.
Athletics vs Giants prediction: Giants 4, Athletics 3
