Oakland (48-39) at Cleveland (48-37)
When: Friday, July 6th 2018
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Cleveland -195/9.5
Its a shame the Oakland A’s are not playing in the American League Central, or they would be right in the thick of an exciting playoff race with the Cleveland Indians. Unfortunately, they’re in the AL West with Houston and Seattle, and are a distant third to those clubs. One of the hottest teams in baseball looks to keep it going when they visit the Indians at Progressive Field Friday night for the first of three. The A’s are nine games over .500, but are seven games back of a Wild Card spot. They would be just a game back of Cleveland, who are 11.5 games clear of the Minnesota Twins in the Central. Oakland will be tested between now and the All-Star Break as they begin a 10-game road trip on Friday. Khris Davis went 5-for-10 with three doubles in last weekend’s series versus Cleveland and is batting 10-for-27 during his seven-game hit streak. The Oakland slugger is hitless in nine at bats against Friday starter Carlos Carrasco, though. Carrasco will be making his first start since landing on the disabled list after Joe Mauer’s line drive drilled his throwing elbow in a game against Minnesota on June 16th. Cleveland has exploded for 33 runs during their current four-game winning streak. Michael Brantley had an RBI double in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory at Kansas City, giving him four RBIs and as many runs scored during his five-game hitting streak. Shortstop Francisco Lindor went 6-for-12 with two homers, four RBIs and five runs scored in last weekend’s series against Oakland.
Pitchers: Athletics – Paul Blackburn (2-2, 6.46 ERA) | Indians – Carlos Carrasco (8-5, 4.24)
Paul Blackburn has had a rough go of it, but was terrific last weekend against the Tribe, scattering three hits and strike out five in 6.1 scoreless innings in a 3-1 victory last Friday. Blackburn retired 14 of the final 15 batters he faced after a shaky start on the heels of posting a 12.70 ERA in his previous three starts. He is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two career starts against the Indians.
Carrasco comes into this contest with a solid rehab outing of four scoreless innings for Double-A Akron on Saturday. He allowed one earned run in two starts covering 14 innings with 21 strikeouts before his poor outing against the Twins in which he was hurt. Carrasco, who owns a 3-1 mark with a 2.61 ERA against Oakland, has gotten the better of Marcus Semien (0-for-9) and Jed Lowrie (1-for-10).
The A’s are hot right now and Carrasco has not had a good season overall. He’s been terrible at home (5.54 ERA) and this Oakland team can hit the long ball. I’m not ready to lay 190 on Cleveland against a hot team. Take the dog.
Pick: A’s +175
BETTING TRENDS:
- Athletics are 4-0 in their last 4 road games.
- Athletics are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Athletics are 5-0 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Athletics are 7-1 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Athletics are 6-1 in their last 7 games following a win.
- Athletics are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Athletics are 14-3 in their last 17 overall.
- Athletics are 14-3 in their last 17 games on grass.
- Athletics are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Athletics are 4-1 in their last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Athletics are 8-3 in their last 11 Friday games.
- Athletics are 42-16 in their last 58 vs. American League Central.
- Athletics are 13-27 in their last 40 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Athletics are 4-0 in Blackburn’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Athletics are 7-3 in Blackburn’s last 10 starts.
- Athletics are 7-3 in Blackburn’s last 10 starts on grass.
- Indians are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 4-0 in their last 4 overall.
- Indians are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Indians are 4-0 in their last 4 games on grass.
- Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 games following an off day.
- Indians are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Indians are 46-17 in their last 63 home games.
- Indians are 8-3 in their last 11 during game 1 of a series.
- Indians are 39-15 in their last 54 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Indians are 70-33 in their last 103 games following a win.
- Indians are 44-21 in their last 65 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 35-17 in their last 52 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 51-25 in their last 76 Friday games.
- Indians are 9-0 in Carrasco’s last 9 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 7-1 in Carrasco’s last 8 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Indians are 8-2 in Carrasco’s last 10 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 11-3 in Carrasco’s last 14 starts following an outing of less than 4 innings in his last appearance.
- Indians are 20-6 in Carrasco’s last 26 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Indians are 10-3 in Carrasco’s last 13 Friday starts.
- Indians are 14-5 in Carrasco’s last 19 home starts.
- Indians are 13-6 in Carrasco’s last 19 starts vs. American League West.
- Indians are 15-7 in Carrasco’s last 22 starts on grass.
- Indians are 35-17 in Carrasco’s last 52 starts.
- Indians are 1-4 in Carrasco’s last 5 starts with 19 or more days of rest.
- Under is 7-1 in Athletics last 8 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Athletics last 7 Friday games.
- Under is 6-1 in Athletics last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Athletics last 7 overall.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Athletics last 7 on grass.
- Under is 5-1 in Athletics last 6 games following a win.
- Under is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 vs. American League Central.
- Over is 8-2 in Athletics last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 7-2-2 in Athletics last 11 games following an off day.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Athletics last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 8-3 in Athletics last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 5-2 in Athletics last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Blackburn’s last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Under is 4-1 in Blackburn’s last 5 road starts.
- Under is 4-1 in Blackburn’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 14-3 in Indians last 17 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 13-3-1 in Indians last 17 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 23-6-1 in Indians last 30 home games.
- Over is 17-5-1 in Indians last 23 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 13-4 in Indians last 17 vs. American League West.
- Under is 6-2 in Indians last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 11-4-1 in Indians last 16 games following an off day.
- Over is 7-3 in Indians last 10 Friday games.
- Under is 7-3 in Indians last 10 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 9-4 in Indians last 13 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Carrasco’s last 5 starts with 19 or more days of rest.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Carrasco’s last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Carrasco’s last 6 starts vs. American League West.
- Under is 4-1 in Carrasco’s last 5 Friday starts.
- Under is 4-1 in Carrasco’s last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Carrasco’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 28-11 in Carrasco’s last 39 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 34-16-1 in Carrasco’s last 51 home starts.
- Under is 4-0 in Carrasco’s last 4 starts vs. Athletics.
- Athletics are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Under is 26-10-2 in the last 38 meetings in Cleveland.
- Under is 39-17-3 in the last 59 meetings.
- Athletics are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings in Cleveland.
