Oakland has distanced itself from the rest of the pack with the MLB’s best record in the first half of the season. With how they’ve been playing recently, it’s going to be hard to stop them. However, success breeds complacency. With the A’s close to securing a season-best six-straight wins, the San Francisco Giants are in prime condition to topple the MLB leaders.
For more baseball action, check out our MLB Free Picks for the best five baseball games to bet on today. Otherwise, read on for a complete preview and analysis as the San Francisco Giants take their chances against the Oakland Athletics in the second game of their series.
[sc:MultiSportArticles ]San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland Athletics, Major League Baseball, Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
When: Tuesday, July 8, 10:05 PM ET
Line: San Francisco Giants (+115) vs. Oakland Athletics (-125); total 7.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on San Francisco Giants
The struggling San Francisco Giants were dominated 5-0 by the Oakland Athletics in the first game of their four-game series on Monday. It was the fourth time the Giants’ offense has been shutout in just over a week.
[sc:MLB240banner ]San Francisco’s fortunes won’t change come Tuesday night if Madison Bumgarner (9-6, 3.09 ERA) doesn’t improve drastically from his past performances. The pitcher has lost three of his last five starts while surrendering 17 runs (15 earned). His last outing saw him pitch for five innings while surrendering four earned runs.
However, a start on the road may be what Bumgarner needs to get back on the right track. The pitcher owns a career-best five-straight wins on the road with a 1.05 ERA.
Monday’s game also saw the Giants continue to struggle from the plate as they recorded just five hits. Michael Morse, who has the most homers for San Francisco (14), went 1-of-4 and struck out twice. Hunter Pence (.299), who has the best batting average for the Giants, was left hitless in three at-bats.
However, all hope is not lost for the Giants on the plate as Joaquin Arias, who has only hit .183 for the team this season, went 2-for-3 on Monday. The batters will be put in uncharted territory as Oakland will start Sonny Gray in the second game. Of the Giants’ batters, only Morse has faced the pitcher, going 0-for-3 against Gray.
The San Francisco Giants are 1-4 in their last five games against AL West.
Betting on Oakland Athletics
Arguably the MLB’s best team pre-All-Star break, the Oakland Athletics have won five straight games. They are on the verge of tying their season-best six-straight wins if they manage to come up on top on Tuesday against the Giants.
Starting for Oakland will be Sonny Gray (8-3, 3.08 ERA). Gray is coming off a less-than-stellar performance in June going 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA over five starts. Still, the pitcher owns one of the best curveballs in MLB and has limited batters to hitting .183 against it. The A’s have gone 3-0 over Gray’s last three starts including a 4-1 win over Toronto for his last start.
Oakland was its usual high-scoring self, trouncing San Francisco 5-0. Oakland batter Alberto Callapso went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while All-Star Josh Donaldson knocked in another RBI while scoring a run himself. Aside from Callapso and Donaldson, John Jaso, Coco Crisp, Stephen Vogt, Jed Lowrie and Craig Gentry also had their own hits.
The total has gone under in Oakland’s last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Oakland Athletics win their sixth-straight. Create a betting account now to capitalize on one of MLB’s best. Take Oakland as -125 home favorite.
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