The Oakland A’s were expected to have another losing season in 2018, but they enter Friday’s series opener at AL Central-leading Cleveland with nearly the same record as the Indians. Alas, the A’s probably won’t be a playoff team in the loaded American League this season. They are big underdogs on Friday’s MLB odds at MyBookie Sportsbook.
The Tribe is without outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall as he was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left calf injury earlier this week. Chisenhall missed nearly two months earlier this year with a right calf injury, and now it’s his left calf that is sending him to the DL.
It’s Carlos Carrasco (8-5, 4.24) on the mound as he makes his first start since going on the disabled list after a line drive hit his throwing elbow on June 16. In his final rehab start, the right-hander covered four scoreless frames and struck out four hitters in the 58-pitch outing, with Manager Terry Francona relaying that Carrasco’s fastball was clocked as high as 97 mph.
Carrasco is due to face the Athletics for the seventh time in his career (sixth start). He has compiled a 3-1 record and 2.61 ERA (12ER/41.1IP) across his prior outings, including 1-1 with a 4.73 ERA (7ER/13.1IP) in two starts vs. the A’s in 2017. He last faced the Athletics on July 14, 2017, in Oakland and took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits over 6.1 innings (2BB, 10K).
Friday will mark Carrasco’s ninth start at Progressive Field this season. He has posted a 4-3 record and 3.33 ERA (20ER/54.0IP) in his eight home starts so far.
How to Bet A’s at Indians MLB Odds & Game Info
RECAP: Stephen Piscotty doubled up, and kept us rolling heading into the road trip. https://t.co/boMQlE6Szh#RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/i1spc81GS9
— Oakland Athletics 🌳🐘⚾ (@Athletics) 4 de julio de 2018
- When: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
- Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland
- Probable Pitchers: Paul Blackburn/Carlos Carrasco
- TV: MLB Network
- Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: TuneIn
- MLB Odds: Cleveland Indians -190 / Oakland A’s +160 / Over-Under at 9
Season Series
These teams played last weekend in Oakland and the A’s took two of three. The first game was a 3-1 A’s victory. Marcus Semien and Khris Davis drove in runs against Trevor Bauer, and Jed Lowrie provided insurance with a solo homer in the eighth off Zach McAllister. Blake Treinen allowed two baserunners in the ninth before earning the save. Game 2 was a 7-2 A’s win. Edwin Jackson gave up only two hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked none in his second start for Oakland. Matt Olson, Dustin Fowler and Josh Phegley homered for Oakland. The Indians avoided the sweep with a 15-3 rout and haven’t lost since. Francisco Lindor homered and hit two of the Indians’ 11 doubles. Edwin Encarnacion also homered and Jose Ramirez, Yonder Alonso, and Lonnie Chisenhall each added two doubles. The Indians nearly matched the team record of 12 doubles set against Minnesota in 1996.Why Bet on Oakland?
The A’s have just one loss in their past nine games – that 15-3 defeat to Cleveland. Oakland swept two from San Diego to open this week. Blake Treinen delivered a scoreless ninth inning against the Padres on Wednesday for his 22nd save of the season. Treinen struck out two batters in the frame and now hasn’t allowed a run in his last nine appearances. He owns a dominant 0.84 ERA and 52/12 K/BB ratio over 42 2/3 innings on the year. He needs to be an All-Star. Oakland starts Paul Blackburn here. Blackburn (2-2, 6.46) was the victor in that 3-1 win over Cleveland. Things didn’t start well as he needed 47 pitches to make it through the first two innings but he pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning. “It was just finding a tempo and rhythm,” Blackburn said. “It’s something I’ve struggled with the first couple of innings. Once I get over that hump in the second inning, I feel like everything is more put together.” Blackburn (2-2) had a 12.70 ERA his past three starts entering that one and struggled early against Cleveland, with four of the first seven batters reaching base safely. But a caught stealing and a double play helped him make it through the first two innings unscathed and he settled down from there. He retired 14 of the final 15 batters he faced. Blackburn allowed three hits and struck out five. He will look for consecutive quality outings for the first time this season.Why Bet on Cleveland?
The Tribe has won four straight following a three-game sweep in Kansas City to start this week. Michael Brantley went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday’s victory and he’s really playing well. Brantley is slashing .306/.353/.488 with 11 home runs, 48 RBI, 45 runs and five stolen bases in 74 games. Cody Allen struck out three batters in a scoreless ninth inning to get a save Wednesday. He allowed a hit in the frame and brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate but was able to strike out the side. He now owns 18 saves and a 3.38 ERA in 36 games. Francisco Lindor’s 35 multi-hit efforts through 84 team games are the most by an Indians player since Juan González also had 35 in the 2001 season. Lindor is among AL leaders in extra-base hits (1st), total bases (2nd), doubles (2nd), hits, (4th), home runs (4th), slugging percentage (5th) and RBI (T10th).
The Tribe is without outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall as he was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left calf injury earlier this week. Chisenhall missed nearly two months earlier this year with a right calf injury, and now it’s his left calf that is sending him to the DL.
It’s Carlos Carrasco (8-5, 4.24) on the mound as he makes his first start since going on the disabled list after a line drive hit his throwing elbow on June 16. In his final rehab start, the right-hander covered four scoreless frames and struck out four hitters in the 58-pitch outing, with Manager Terry Francona relaying that Carrasco’s fastball was clocked as high as 97 mph.
Carrasco is due to face the Athletics for the seventh time in his career (sixth start). He has compiled a 3-1 record and 2.61 ERA (12ER/41.1IP) across his prior outings, including 1-1 with a 4.73 ERA (7ER/13.1IP) in two starts vs. the A’s in 2017. He last faced the Athletics on July 14, 2017, in Oakland and took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits over 6.1 innings (2BB, 10K).
Friday will mark Carrasco’s ninth start at Progressive Field this season. He has posted a 4-3 record and 3.33 ERA (20ER/54.0IP) in his eight home starts so far.
Latest MLB Betting Trends
- Athletics are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings in Cleveland
- Indians are 20-6 in Carrasco’s last 26 starts during game 1 of a series
- Indians are 10-3 in Carrasco’s last 13 Friday starts
- Under is 4-0 in Carrasco’s last 4 starts vs. Athletics
- Oakland is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games
- Oakland is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oakland’s last 7 games
- Cleveland is 11-5 ATS in its last 16 games
- Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland’s last 5 games at home
