Get ready for an explosive Tuesday night, as the MLB is set to serve up a pair of mouth-watering games that will most definitely put a big smile on your face. The Oakland Athletics (51-62) fly up north, as they look to cool off the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays (61-52) in the first meeting of their three-game set tonight.
Then later on at AT&T Park, the Houston Astros (61-52) open up their own three-game series with the San Francisco Giants (59-52) for a promising interleague showdown. Read on below for a brief preview of these two important matchups and while you’re at it, you can check out our complete breakdown between the Athletics and Blue Jays here.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Oakland Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays (7:07 PM ET)
Line: Oakland Athletics (+170) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (-200); total: 9.0 – view all MLB lines
The Oakland Athletics are coming off an impressive three-game sweep of the Houston Astros. They’ll definitely be looking to keep their streak alive when they send Kendall Graveman (6-7, 3.90 ERA) to the mound tonight for their series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Graveman’s been struggling of late, as he continues to seek his first win since July 4 at Seattle. The 24-year-old righty is 0-3 with a dismal 6.20 ERA across his last five turns. That stretch includes a 7-1 defeat to the Blue Jays, during which he allowed six earned runs on six hits in over 5 1/3 innings logged in. However, Graveman has played considerably better on the road, owning a 4-3 record with a 3.10 ERA and 1.52 WHIP.
Toronto, meanwhile, will be countering with Drew Hutchison, who boasts a 10-2 record but holds a high 5.42 ERA. Hutchison has managed to avoid a loss despite getting rocked for 17 runs and 21 hits in 14 innings across his previous three starts thanks to the Blue Jays’ high-octane offense. He’s pitched well at home this season with an 8-1 record and a quality 2.69 ERA.
The A’s are 0-5 in Graveman’s last five starts. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, enter tonight’s game in the midst of an eight-game winning streak.
Writer’s Prediction
Toronto (-200) wins, 9-4.
Houston Astros vs. San Francisco Giants (10:15 PM ET)
Line: Houston Astros (+128) vs. San Francisco Giants (-138); total: 6.0– view all MLB lines
After losing the last three games in their series with the Athletics, the Houston Astros are on the brink of being overtaken by the Angels, and are clinging on just a one-game lead for the No. 1 spot in the American League West division. The Astros will be hoping to receive a good pitching performance from Scott Kazmir (6-6, 2.08 ERA), who was acquired from Oakland just a few weeks ago.
Kazmir didn’t waste any time in displaying his pitching prowess during his first two outings in an Astros uniform, logging in 14 2/3 innings of shutout ball to pick up the victories. But he suffered his first defeat to the Rangers on August 5, yielding four runs (one earned) on six hits in 5 2/3 frames.
The Giants, on the other hand, will be giving the ball to Madison Bumgarner (12-6, 3.28 ERA) later tonight. Bumgarner has won four of his last five starts, which includes 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball last time out against Atlanta on Wednesday night. He is 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA in four career starts versus Houston.
The Astros are 1-6 in their last seven overall. The Giants, meanwhile, are 8-1 in their previous nine home games.
Writer’s Prediction
San Francisco (-138) wins, 5-4.
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