The MLB postseason is set to get underway tonight with the Oakland Athletics and the Kansas City Royals squaring off in the American League Wild Card game to determine who will face the Los Angeles Angels in the AL Divisional Series.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Europe’s premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League, also resumes today with 2012 winners Chelsea taking on Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon in Group G action.
Read on for our preview of these two important ballgames and while you’re at it, check out our NFL Week 5 picks and predictions just to make the most of an amazing multi-sport month.
[sc:Other240banner ]Premier League leaders Chelsea will look to grab sole possession of first place in the Champions League’s Group H when they face Sporting Lisbon later today in the resumption of Champions League action. All four teams in Group H, including Schalke and NK Maribor, are all tied at one point apiece so a win on Tuesday would go a long way in extending their stay in the competition.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa is set to start for the Blues after passing a fitness test with his injured hamstring. The Spanish forward is a vital cog in Mourinho’s squad this season having already scored eight goals this season. He will be joined in the starting lineup by midfielder Cesc Fabregas who scored Chelsea’s only goal in their 1-1 draw with Schalke in their opening Group H match September 17.
Sporting Lisbon, on the other hand, are struggling at the moment as they lie in seventh place in the Portuguese league, six points behind leaders Benfica. They also had a disappointing 1-1 draw against lowly side NK Maribor in their opening Champions League game with Portuguese international Nani scoring the club’s only goal.
Oakland Athletics vs. Kansas City Royals (8:07 PM ET)
Line: Oakland Athletics (-105) at Kansas City Royals (-105); total: 6.5 – see all MLB lines
The Oakland Athletics will send Jon Lester (16-11, 2.46 ERA) to the mound later tonight as they look to grab that all-important win against the Kansas City Royals to set up an ALDS showdown with the Los Angeles Angels.
Lester is 3-0 with an ERA of 2.61 in his three starts against the Royals this season. He has a 6-4 record in the postseason with an ERA of 2.11. This is his first playoff start for the A’s.
Standing in his way, however, is James Shields and the rest of the Royals. Shields has a 14-8 win-loss record this season with an ERA of 3.21. In two starts against the A’s this season, Shields has allowed a total of five runs in 14 innings of action to get a victory and a no-decision.
The A’s are 5-5 in their last 10 away games while the Royals are 4-6 in their last 10 home games.
You can read a complete preview of the AL Wild Card game here.
Writer’s Prediction
The Athletics (-105) win to set up an ALDS clash with the Angels.
