With their blockbuster moves yesterday, Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics signaled to all that they are very much in win-now mode. And despite his relative inexperience, Sonny Gray is also in win-now mode as he’s been getting the W in just about every time he steps on the mound.
Gray can tie reigning-AL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer with 13 wins this season if he gets by the Kansas City Royals, who are still right in the thick of the AL Wild Card race.
Check out more fascinating baseball matchups in today’s MLB Free Picks, and read on for more on the Royals vs. A’s.
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Kansas City Royals vs. Oakland Athletics, Major League Baseball, Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: O.co Coliseum, Oakland
When: Friday, August 1, 9:30 PM ET
Line: Kansas City Royals (+170) at Oakland Athletics (-200); total 7.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals ended a recent home stand with back-to-back wins against the Minnesota Twins to put them at 7-2 in their last nine games.
[sc:MLB240banner ]However, Kansas City has lost four of its last five series openers, and it will have an uphill battle reversing that trend away to the MLB-leading Oakland Athletics with Jeremy Guthrie (6-9, 4.70 ERA) starting. Guthrie has been flat out awful in the month of July with an ERA of 10.07.
Despite giving up five more runs on 10 hits in 5.2 innings in his last start, Guthrie escaped with a win against the Indians thanks to some decent run support. But runs may be even harder to come by for the already offensively-challenged Royals after 1B Eric Hosmer went down with injury last night.
With Hosmer out, designated hitter Billy Butler (.269/.321/.363) will likely fill in at first base, while 42-year old Raul Ibanez (.197/.284/.335 against right handers) will DH.
While the Oakland Athletics were busy acquiring another ace in Jon Lester yesterday, their young, up-and-coming ace Sonny Gray (12-3, 2.65 ERA) was preparing to continue his impressive run in his start tonight against the Royals. Gray pitched spectacularly well in July, with a 1.03 ERA in five starts, all leading to A’s wins. Oakland has won in Gray’s last seven starts in a row.
Because they had a day-off as yesterday’s trade drama unfolded, the A’s will now play their first game without two-time Home Run Derby King Yoenis Cespedes, who was dealt to the Boston Red Sox.
While the A’s will miss the slugger’s power, the no. 1-ranked scoring offense looks like it will survive his absence in the lineup, especially if the duo of John Jason and Josh Donaldson continue playing as well as they have been recently.
Post-All Star Game, Jaso is hitting .353 with 10 RBI, while Donaldson has three homers and 11 RBI. Outfielder Josh Reddick (.323 with two home runs Post-ASG) is also making a comeback after a poor start to the season.
The A’s are 10-2 in last 12 home games and 6-1 in their last seven at home vs. the Royals.
Writer’s Prediction
Gray dominates KC’s punchless lineup, while the Oakland bats rough up Guthrie. Take the A’s (-200) to win tonight.
