MLB Predictions: Will the A’s hand the struggling Giants another loss? 7/31/17
Crosstown rivals will square off in the Bay Arena tonight when the A’s host the Giants at 10:05PM ET. Will Oakland hand San Francisco yet another loss?
The Matchup: Giants vs. A’s, 10:05PM ET, Oakland Coliseum
San Francisco has been awful all season and awful of late, losing seven of its last 10 games. The Giants were swept by the Dodgers over the weekend and are now 40-66 on the year. They’re also 18-37 on the road in 2017.
Oakland, meanwhile, is coming off a walk-off win against Minnesota on Sunday but is also 3-7 over its last 10 games. Even with their win, the A’s are 46-59 on the year, although they have been solid at home (30-24).
According to oddsmakers, the A’s are -140 money line favorites to win tonight at home. That makes the Giants +125 money line underdogs to pull off the upset. The total, meanwhile, is sitting at 9.5 runs.
The Pitching Matchup: Matt Cain (SFG) vs. Paul Blackburn (OAK)
Cain is coming off yet another loss on July 24, this time against the Pirates at home. He pitched four innings, allowed six runs (two earned) on six hits. Cain is now 3-9 on the season and owns a 5.45 ERA.
As for Blackburn, he’s 1-1 and owns a 2.25 ERA in 2017. He took a no-decision in his last start, which came on July 26 against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Blackburn didn’t surrender a run over seven innings, allowed two hits and struck out three.
Our Prediction
There’s no reason to bet the Giants at this point. They had two opportunities to slay the Dodgers last night and coughed up two separate leads, once in the bottom of the ninth, then once again in the bottom of the 11th. They’re horrendous.
The Giants have also been horrid against the A’s. They’re 3-7 in Cain’s last 10 starts against Oakland and 0-4 in his last four road outings versus the A’s overall. San Francisco has also dropped 13 of its last 18 games in Oakland as well.
Monday MLB Prediction: Oakland A’s -140