Athletics vs. Indians Pick
Will the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Indians struggle to get to 9 runs when the two meet up later today at 4:10PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Indians are the clear favorite at home today, as they are getting odds of -240 to win. Oakland is listed with odds of +215 to prevail, while the over/under total for the game is set at 9 runs. These two have yet to meet this season.
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The pitching matchup for this game has Carlos Carrasco (4-2, 2.93 ERA) on the mound for Cleveland to face Daniel Mengden of the Athletics. Mengden is making his first appearance of the season for Oakland. He started 14 games a year ago, going 2-9 with a 6.50 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. Carrasco has allowed multiple runs over four of his last five starts, including nine in his last two. He has 58 strikeouts with 15 walks this season and a WHIP of 0.94.
Oakland is coming off a series loss to the Yankees on the road this weekend. They have hit the under in three of their last four games as well. The Athletics are 22-27 overall, 7-17 on the road and 27-22 with the over. Oakland averages just 4.08 runs per game while allowing 4.98. Jed Lowrie is leading the team with a .300 average, 15 doubles, six homers and 16 RBI. Yonder Alonso has 13 homers and 30 RBI while Khris Davis has 15 home runs and 31 RBI.
Cleveland snapped a three-game losing streak in a 10-1 win over the Royals at home on Sunday. The Indians are 25-23 overall, 9-13 at home and 27-18 with the under. Cleveland is scoring 4.42 runs per game this season while allowing 4.08. The Indians are being led by Francisco Lindor, who has a .283 average with 11 home runs, 14 doubles and 24 RBI. Michael Brantley is hitting .304 with five homers and 21 RBI.
The under has been the trend with these two as they are 34-14-3 with the under in their last 51 meetings overall and 23-9-2 with the under in their last 34 meetings in Cleveland. The Indians have hit the under in 8 of Carrasco’s last 10 starts as well. While Cleveland may hit Mengden, the Athletics are likely to struggle with Carrasco and the Oakland bullpen. It takes two to hit the over and I don’t see Oakland doing its part.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: ATHLETICS/INDIANS UNDER 9