Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants – Major League Baseball – Betting Preview and Prediction – July 9, 2014

The Bay Bridge Series shifts to AT&T Park in San Francisco with the Giants hoping to stop the Athletics’ momentum and put an end to their six-game winning streak.

Read on for a complete breakdown of this matchup as the Athletics (57-33) and the Giants (49-41) resume their interleague rivalry in the third game of this unique home-and-away four-game set. You can also check out our MLB Free Picks for our picks of  the five best baseball games to bet on of the day.
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Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants, Major League Baseball Betting Preview and Prediction

Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California

When: Wednesday, July 9, 2014, 10:15 PM ET

Line: Oakland Athletics (-107) vs. San Francisco Giants (-103); total – 7.0 – view all MLB lines

Betting on the Oakland Athletics

After taking the first two games of the series at home, the Athletics will try to extend their winning streak to seven when they visit the slumping San Francisco Giants across the bay on Wednesday night.

[sc:MLB240banner ]The Athletics dominated the Giants in the first two games of this four-game set, beating them 5-0 and 6-1 respectively as they stamped their class over their municipal rivals. Much has been said about the Athletics’ offense which leads the league in runs scored (444), but their pitching is what’s driving their current winning ways.

They have only allowed five runs in their past six victories, and limited the Giants to a single run in their first two encounters. Jason Hammel (8-5, 2.98 ERA), who was part of the blockbuster trade with the Chicago Cubs that sent him and Jeff Samardzija to the league-leading Athletics for a trio of youngsters, will take the mound for the A’s.

Hammel has been impressive in his last three outings, allowing only two earned runs in each of his past three starts while going six-plus innings in all of them. His addition will further boost the Athletics’ pitching staff which is already second in the league in ERA with a 3.09 clip.

One area for concern for the Athletics, however, will be their recent away record. They have lost their last three games on the road after getting swept by the Tigers the last time out.

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Betting on the San Francisco Giants

The Giants return to AT&T Park after getting clobbered by the Athletics in Oakland in the last two games. They were outscored 11-1 in those two games and that paltry single run scored will be the main source of concern for the Giants heading to this ballgame.

It has been a miserable month for the Giants, who were 21 games above .500 on June 8 (42-21). They then went on a severe tailspin, losing 20 of their next 27 games as they drag themselves towards the All-Star break.

One of the reasons behind their struggles is the form of their star pitcher Matt Cain (1-7, 4.27 ERA). He hasn’t won a ballgame since May 15, although he has pitched well in his last two games. He shut out the Reds for seven innings and was in line for the victory last June 28 but then closer Sergio Romo blew a save, allowing two runs in the ninth as the Reds pulled off a 7-3 victory.

And then on July 4 Cain lost a tight pitching duel with Eric Stults as the Giants once again failed to provide enough run support in a 2-0 defeat.

The Giants are 22nd in the league when it comes to runs scored with 354, but may find some form at home. They’ve won eight of their last ten home games against the Athletics.

Writer’s Prediction

Matt Cain and the Giants will be boosted by their home crowd and will stop the Athletics’ win streak at six. Take San Francisco (-103) over Oakland at home.
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