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The Arizona Diamondbacks and Oakland A’s opened this week with two games in the desert, and they shift to the Bay area for two more games starting Wednesday night. The A’s are favored on the MLB odds behind Jesus Luzardo.

How to Bet Diamondbacks at A’s MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 9:40 PM ET
Where: Oakland Coliseum
Probable pitchers (away/home): Merrill Kelly/Jesus Luzardo
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: A’s -167, Diamondbacks +154 (total 8.5)

Why Bet on Arizona?

Only the New York Mets have a better interleague record since 2019 than Arizona does.

Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte didn’t start Tuesday’s game vs. Oakland but it was just a day of rest and he should be back in there Wednesday. Marte has made excellent contact in recent games, hitting .387 over his last seven contests.

Catcher Carson Kelly also got Tuesday off. Kelly appears to be slipping behind Stephen Vogt in the pecking order behind the plate for the Diamondbacks. Vogt started Tuesday, his fourth start in the last six games and his seventh in the last 11 contests.

The team has recalled infielder Kevin Cron and pitcher Yoan López from the Alternate Training Site and sent pitcher Joel Payamps and infielder Andy Young back there.

It’s Merrill Kelly on the mound here. Kelly (3-1, 1.71) blanked the Padres for 6 2/3 innings and struck out seven Friday in the Diamondbacks’ 5-1 victory. Kelly, who came into the game with a 6-2 record and a 2.22 ERA in his last eight starts, continued to find a way to get crucial outs with opposing runners in scoring position.

“I think the conversation starts and stops with Merrill Kelly,” manager Torey Lovullo said after the game. “He did an unbelievable job of pitching into the seventh inning, he looked like he had several pitches working, he was changing speed and locations with that fastball, and it was a lot of fun to watch.”

Kelly is 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA, which is pretty good for someone who was probably going to open up in the bullpen if Mike Leake hadn’t opted out.

Kelly has been the D-backs’ best pitcher this year. Over his last two starts, he has allowed just one run in 12 2/3 innings. In four starts this year, he has allowed more than one run just once.

Why Bet on Oakland?

Top A’s pitching prospect A.J. Puk (shoulder) tossed a 30-pitch bullpen session on Monday. Puk threw all four of his pitches during the workout at the A’s alternate training site in San Jose. He’ll do another bullpen session on Thursday and could then move on to facing live hitters. If the young left-hander is able to return this season he will probably work as a reliever.

Meanwhile, reliever Burch Smith (forearm) will be shut down for at least the next two weeks. An MRI taken Monday on Smith’s strained right forearm showed no major structural damage, but he could have a tough time returning to action before the end of the condensed 2020 regular season. Smith has a 2.25 ERA and .163 opponents batting average in six games with the A’s and has two wins and a save.

It’s Jesus Luzardo (1-0, 4.79) on the mound. Luzardo was tagged for six runs in 3 1/3 innings by the Giants on Friday. In Luzardo’s defense, he didn’t know he was pitching in this one until earlier in the day, as the A’s were forced to scratch Frankie Montas with a back issue.

Luzardo Is scheduled to make his sixth appearance and fourth start of the season Wednesday. He has never faced the Diamondbacks in his career. Luzardo was 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA and .143 opponents’ batting average in three starts this spring. He struck out 13 batters and walked just one in 8.1 innings.

Luzardo had his 2019 season interrupted twice by a strained left shoulder but, after going 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA and .221 opponents average in 11 games (nine starts) with three minor league teams, he was selected by Oakland on Sept. 9 after Las Vegas concluded its season. He had no decisions, two saves, a 1.50 ERA and .119 opponents average in six relief appearances in his ML debut.

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