Expert MLB Betting Pick on New York Yankees at Oakland A’s

Posted by Jordan Walterss on Wednesday,May 18, 2016 10:32, EDT in

The Oakland A’s pulled a surprising sweep at Yankee Stadium earlier this season. New York looks for a little redemption when it opens a four-game series in Oakland on Thursday night and it will mark the return from injury for Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez. The Bombers likely will be small favorites on MLB odds.

A Closer Look at the Expert MLB Betting Pick on New York Yankees at Oakland A’s & TV Info

When: Thursday, May 19, 10:05 PM ET
Where: Oakland Coliseum
Probable pitchers (away/home): Ivan Nova/Kendall Graveman
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream: MLB.tv
Radio: New York / Oakland
Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Yankees at A’s Historic Betting Trends

Rodriguez hasn’t played since May 3 due to a hamstring but felt good after taking batting practice on Monday and should play on Thursday barring a setback. The 40-year-old veteran has been jogging prior to games and hitting in the cages, but hitting BP means he’s near game-ready. Rodriguez left in the eighth inning of a May 3 game against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards after injuring himself running to first base. He had a slow start to the season but had begun to heat up at the time of the injury, collecting six hits, including three home runs, in his last 17 at-bats. Overall, Rodriguez is hitting just .194 with five homers and 12 RBIs. He is eight homers shy of 700 career.

The A’s have lost catcher Josh Phegley to the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 10, with right knee inflammation. Phegley said Monday that he was feeling a lot better after a cortisone shot, but the A’s didn’t feel that he was ready quite yet. He’ll be eligible to return next week. Stephen Vogt and Matt McBride will share catching duties. Phegley is hitting .270 with three RBIs.

Oakland visited the Bronx from April 19-21 and won all three games. The opener was 3-2 in 11 innings. After Jed Lowrie doubled in the 11th inning for his fourth hit of the night, Mark Canha singled off the glove of a diving Didi Gregorius at shortstop to drive in the go-ahead run. Lowrie is now on the DL. Rodriguez had an RBI single in the first inning of the game.

In Game 2, Oakland won 5-2. Kendall Graveman tossed three-hit ball into the seventh inning and struck out a career-high eight. Graveman worked his way out of a first-inning jam and gave up only Gregorius’ solo homer in 6 1/3 innings. And he actually hit! Following an injury to third baseman Danny Valencia, the A’s relinquished their designated hitter and put Graveman in the cleanup spot. With two runners on in the fifth, he fouled off a 97 mph fastball but struck out on three pitches.

And in the finale, the A’s won 7-3. Khris Davis and Coco Crisp homered on consecutive pitches, backing Rich Hill’s six strong innings. It was the first time the Athletics swept a series in the Bronx since 2006 and only the second time over the last 21 seasons.

Graveman (1-5, 5.84) gets the call here for Oakland. He surrendered six hits, four earned runs, and three walks in Saturday’s 6-0 loss to the Rays. The 25-year-old continued his season-long struggles, as he’s now surrendered 14 earned runs over the last 14.2 innings on the mound. He’s also given up eight homers over the last four starts.

It’s Ivan Nova (2-1, 3.70) for New York. The sinker-balling Nova has pitched well in two starts since rejoining the rotation, posting a 1.74 ERA in 10 1/3 innings against the Royals and White Sox. He is 1-0 with a 4.24 ERA in four games (three starts) vs. Oakland.

Expert Betting Prediction

Take the Yankees and go over the total.