10:05 pm
September 4

Yankees @ Athletics

Who will WIN this matchup?

New York Yankees (86-52)

@ Oakland Athletics (83-56)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Happ (NYY): 15-6; 4.00 ERA

Hendriks (OAK) 0-1; 7.82 ERA

 

Last 10 Games Played:

New York Yankees: 5-5

Oakland Athletics: 6-4

 

Current odds:

New York Yankees: (-120)

Oakland Athletics: (+110)

 

• The race for the top wild-card spot in the American League – and home field advantage in the play-in game – is intensifying by the day, and the Oakland Athletics look to make it even tighter when they continue a three-game series with the visiting New York Yankees on Tuesday. The Athletics hammered five extra-base hits among 10 total in a 6-3 win Monday to begin the series and move to within 3 1/2 games of the wild card-leading Yankees. The victory also kept Oakland within 2 1/2 games of first place in the AL West and and 5 1/2 ahead of the Seattle Mariners for the second wild card.

• New York is 3-5 since an 8-1 surge and sits 8 1/2 games back in the AL East, but its most dependable starter of late is on the mound for Tuesday’s critical matchup. J.A. Happ is 5-0 since being traded to the Yankees in July, although he finally was roughed up a bit in his most recent outing against Detroit. Oakland counters with Liam Hendriks as its opener in what figures to be a bullpen day.

• Happ was knocked around for five runs and 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings against the Tigers on Thursday, although he did finish a start without issuing a walk for the first time since July 22. He had a 2.37 ERA in his first five appearances with the Yankees. The 35-year-old is 4-1 with a 3.69 ERA in 10 career games (eight starts) against Oakland.

• Hendriks was utilized as the opener Saturday against Seattle – his first start in the majors since 2014 – and took the loss after giving up two runs over 1 2/3 innings. Andrew McCutchen is 2-for-4 with a triple, a double and three RBIs against the Australia native. Manager Bob Melvin indicated that Frankie Montas, who has a 3.96 ERA in 11 starts for Oakland, will get some innings in relief of Hendriks.

• Yankees DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton is 0-for-11 with six strikeouts over the last three games.

• Athletics OF Stephen Piscotty is 9-for-23 with three homers and two doubles during a six-game hitting streak.

• Oakland has won five straight at home against New York.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Oakland Athletics
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