KANSAS CITY vs OAKLAND
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 15, 2019
Where: RingCentral Coliseum, Oakland, California

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS.
LINE: Kansas City -7.
O/U: 53.5
PREDICTION: Chiefs 34, Raiders 24

Oddsmakers currently have the OAKLAND listed as 7 point favorites versus the KANSAS CITY, while the game’s total is sitting at 53.5.

The Kansas City Chiefs saw their season flash before them when star quarterback Patrick Mahomes sprained his ankle in Week 1, but the reigning MVP says he will be ready to play Sunday. Mahomes and the Chiefs hit the road in Week 2 for an AFC West showdown with the Oakland Raiders.

The Chiefs’ high-powered offense will be without one of its top weapons, as star receiver Tyreek Hill is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a sternoclavicular joint injury (the spot where the clavicle meets the sternum), but Raiders coach Jon Gruden still is wary of Kansas City’s offense. “(Rookie Mecole Hardman) is gonna be fast and dynamic. Sammy Watkins is healthy. … (Travis) Kelce is still Kelce. They’ve added (LeSean) Shady McCoy. They’re a problem,” Gruden said in a teleconference. “I’m getting a headache talking about it.” The Raiders had their share of headaches on the eve of the season with the saga leading up to Antonio Brown’s release, but they capped a whirlwind Week 1 with a 24-16 home win over Denver on Monday night. The Chiefs have won three straight meetings, but they narrowly escaped with a 40-33 victory in their visit to Oakland last season.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Kansas City -7. O/U: 53.5

ABOUT THE CHIEFS (1-0): Even without Hill, Kansas City’s offense has plenty of prowess with Mahomes throwing to Watkins (nine catches, 198 yards, three touchdowns in Week 1) and Kelce. Damien Williams and recent acquisition McCoy split time in the backfield, and the latter is expected to take on a bigger role after averaging 8.1 yards on 10 carries last week. The secondary still is a concern for the Chiefs, who surrendered 347 passing yards in a 40-26 win at Jacksonville and were picked apart by rookie Gardner Minshew in the second half.

ABOUT THE RAIDERS (1-0): Oakland did an excellent job of protecting Derek Carr against Denver, as the team did not surrender a sack. Carr found a new favorite target in Tyrell Williams, who snagged six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, and rookie Josh Jacobs rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns. The Raiders were able to wreak havoc in the backfield against the Broncos, collecting three sacks and five tackles for loss, but they’ll have a bigger challenge this week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Chiefs have scored 25 or more points in an NFL-record 22 consecutive games.

2. Mahomes has thrown at least two touchdown passes in 12 straight contests.

3. Jacobs was the first player since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2001 to record at least 100 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in his NFL debut.

PREDICTION: Chiefs 34, Raiders 24

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DENVER vs OAKLAND
When: 10:20 PM ET, Monday, September 9, 2019
Where: RingCentral Coliseum, Oakland, California

TV: 10:20 p.m. ET, ESPN.
LINE: Broncos -2.
O/U: 42.5
PREDICTION: Broncos 23, Raiders 20

Oddsmakers currently have the OAKLAND listed as -2 point favorites versus the DENVER, while the game’s total is sitting at 42.5.

The Oakland Raiders have finally stopped waffling when it comes to deciding what to do with disgruntled wide receiver Antonio Brown. The Raiders released Brown and his 686 receptions and 9,145 yards since 2013 – the most in NFL history for a six-year period – two days prior to Monday night’s season opener against the visiting Broncos, and Brown immediately signed with the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

It appears the Raiders were going to suspend Brown before he delivered an emotional apology to teammates Friday, when the club changed course and said he would play Monday. But Brown on Saturday posted “release me” on Instagram and Oakland complied after an tumultuous training camp that saw him suffer frostbite on his feet during a cryotherapy treatment, refuse to wear a new helmet even though the NFL mandated that all players must use a newer, approved model and have a heated exchange with first-year general manager Mike Mayock. The Raiders, who will move to Las Vegas after this season, and the Broncos are projected to battle for last place in the AFC West as the Joe Flacco era begins in Denver. “Listen, I feel like I’ve got a lot left in the tank and I feel like I can do a lot more than what I’ve really shown over the course of my 11-year career,” Flacco told reporters. “So, I’m excited that I’m going to have the opportunity here to do that.”

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (2018: 6-10, THIRD IN AFC WEST): Flacco, who lost his job in Baltimore last season to Lamar Jackson, needs 1,755 passing yards to reach 40,000 in his career. Running back Phillip Lindsay, who rushed for 1,037 yards as an undrafted rookie last season, is completely healed from a broken wrist that forced him to miss the final game of 2018. Denver’s defense boasts a pair of powerful pass rushers in Von Miller (14.5 sacks last season, 98 career) and Bradley Chubb (12 as a rookie in 2018), and top cornerback Chris Harris – the only player in the league with multiple interceptions over the last seven seasons.

ABOUT THE RAIDERS (2018: 4-12, LAST IN AFC WEST): Without Brown and his NFL-most 74 touchdowns since entering the league in 2010, Tyrell Williams will likely emerge as the marquee wideout as he makes his club debut after catching 153 passes and scoring 16 touchdowns over the last three seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. Oakland selected running back Josh Jacobs with the 24th overall pick and hope the former Alabama star can improve a ground game that was 25th in the league in each of the last two seasons while taking pressure off quarterback Derek Carr. Tahir Whitehead is one of seven linebackers in the league with five or more interceptions (five) and 30 or more tackles for loss (32) since 2014.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Broncos have won 499 games – playoffs included – and seven straight season openers, which is the NFL’s longest active streak. Denver also owns the league’s highest Week 1 winning percentage at .672 (39-19-1).

2. The Raiders yielded an NFL-most 29.2 points per game last season.

3. Oakland leads the series 64-53-2. The home team has won the last six meetings.

The post DENVER vs. OAKLAND 9/9/2019 NFL Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

LA ANGELS vs OAKLAND
GAME: Los Angeles Angels (24-29) at Oakland Athletics (29-25)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 10:07 PM EST
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), NBCS California (Oakland)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Athletics 7, Angels 2

Oddsmakers currently have the OAKLAND listed as point favorites versus the LA ANGELS, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Houston Astros looked to be separating themselves from the rest of the American League West just two weeks ago, but the Oakland Athletics have quickly closed the gap. The Athletics put their 10-game winning streak on the line Tuesday when they continue their three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Angels.

Josh Phegley, Jurickson Profar and Matt Chapman each homered and Stephen Piscotty added a two-run double in Monday’s 8-5 victory as Oakland moved a season-high four games over .500 and remained 6 1/2 games back of first-place Houston. Phegley has homered in back-to-back contests and Piscotty has reached base safely in 23 straight games for the power-hitting Athletics, who have gone deep 16 times during their winning streak. The Angels received a solo homer from Albert Pujols but lost for the sixth time in their last eight games after starter Trevor Cahill allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings. Kole Calhoun doubled twice and has six hits in his last nine at-bats following a 1-for-17 skid.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Nick Tropeano (2018: 5-6, 4.74 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Frankie Montas (6-2, 2.40)

The Angels are expected to use a reliever as an opener in front of Tropeano, who will be promoted from Triple-A Salt Lake after going 1-1 with a 7.66 ERA in five starts for the Bees. The 28-year-old native New Yorker made 14 starts for the Angels last season, finishing with a 5-6 record and 4.74 ERA over 76 innings. Tropeano is pitching for the first time since May 19, when he allowed two runs over five innings in a 9-2 victory over the Las Vegas Aviators.

Montas’ breakout season continued last Wednesday, when he allowed five hits over six shutout frames in a 7-2 win over Cleveland. The 26-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has pitched at least six innings in four straight starts, allowing a total of five runs with 31 strikeouts over that stretch. Calhoun is 4-for-6 with a home run against Montas, who is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in four career games (one starts) versus the Angels.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Athletics have a season-high seven-game errorless streak and have made just five errors over the past 20 games.

2. Angels C Jonathan Lucroy (stomach virus) was scratched from Monday’s starting lineup and is listed as day-to-day.

3. The Athletics are 19-1-3 over their last 23 series at Oakland Coliseum.

PREDICTION: Athletics 7, Angels 2

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LA ANGELS vs OAKLAND
GAME: Los Angeles Angels (24-28) at Oakland Athletics (28-25)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 27 – 4:07 PM EST
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), NBCS California (Oakland)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Angels 3

Oddsmakers currently have the OAKLAND listed as point favorites versus the LA ANGELS, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Oakland Athletics attempt to push their winning streak into double digits when they host the Los Angeles Angels on Monday afternoon for the opener of their three-game series. Oakland’s string of success reached nine games when it completed a three-game sweep of Seattle with Sunday’s 7-1 triumph.

Josh Phegley went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs for the Athletics, who also swept a three-game set in Cleveland after winning three straight at Detroit before the finale of the four-game series was suspended with them holding a two-run lead. Phegley is tied with Gary Sanchez of the New York Yankees for the most RBIs among American League catchers (31) and is three shy of matching the career high he set in 2015 with Oakland. Luis Rengifo ignited a six-run rally in the seventh inning with a two-run single as the Angels rallied from a 5-1 deficit on Sunday and held on for a 7-6 triumph – their second straight win following a five-game slide. Rengifo has posted back-to-back two-hit performances and three in his last four contests for Los Angeles, which is beginning an eight-game road trip after going 4-5 on its homestand.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Felix Pena (2-1, 3.22 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (2-1, 2.48)

Pena has followed an “opener” after making four traditional starts to begin the season but worked one inning of scoreless relief in Sunday’s victory over Texas. The 29-year-old Dominican worked five frames in his previous appearance, allowing one run and four hits versus Minnesota on May 20 without receiving a decision. Pena made his season debut in Oakland on March 30, when he yielded four runs and four hits over 3 2/3 innings of a loss that dropped him to 0-2 with an 8.79 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance against the Athletics in his career.

Bassitt escaped with a no-decision at Cleveland on Tuesday after giving up three runs on three hits and six walks across 3 2/3 innings. The 30-year-old native of Ohio was much more effective in his previous turn, scattering four hits over eight scoreless frames in a victory at Detroit. Bassitt has yet to defeat the Angels in his career as he is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts and a pair of relief outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels INF David Fletcher is riding a five-game hitting streak during which he has gone 9-for-19 with a pair of three-hit performances, including one on Sunday.

2. Oakland 3B Matt Chapman has gone 4-for-8 with two homers, three RBIs and three runs over his last two contests.

3. Los Angeles optioned RHP Jaime Barria to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday to open a roster spot for LHP Andrew Heaney (elbow), who was activated from the injured list and allowed two runs with eight strikeouts in five innings of a no-decision.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Angels 3

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OAKLAND vs CLEVELAND
GAME: Oakland Athletics (24-25) at Cleveland Indians (25-22)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 22 – 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, STO (Cleveland)
LINE: 105
PREDICTION: Indians 4, Athletics 3

Oddsmakers currently have the CLEVELAND listed as 105 point favorites versus the OAKLAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

Jurickson Profar is beginning to warm up after a rough start to the season and has played a big role as the Oakland Athletics take a season-high, five-game winning streak into Wednesday’s series finale against the host Cleveland Indians. Profar was batting .165 through April and .178 before last weekend, but is 7-for-13 in his last four games after homering in back-to-back contests to open the series.

Profar belted a solo shot in Tuesday’s 5-3 victory after getting hit by a pitch twice and walking in his first three at-bats while Athletics’ slugger Khris Davis left the game with a lingering hip injury and was placed on the injured list, but his replacement Mark Canha launched a two-run homer. Frankie Montas hopes for a similar effort to the one he produced earlier this month against the Indians when he takes the mound Wednesday seeking a series sweep and Cleveland counters with fellow right-hander Jefry Rodriguez, whose only win this season came versus Oakland. The Indians had won four of five before dropping the first two games of the series despite Carlos Santana going deep for the third time in four contests and Francisco Lindor belting a solo homer for the second straight day. Lindor has hit safely in six consecutive games and Jason Kipnis worked a walk Tuesday to extend his on-base streak to 16 contests for Cleveland, which is 1-4 against the Athletics this year.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Frankie Montas (5-2, 2.67 ERA) vs. Indians RH Jefry Rodriguez (1-3, 3.45)

Montas completed a career-high 8 2/3 innings last time out at Detroit while allowing two runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts in a 7-2 victory. The 26-year-old Dominican Republic native has strung together three straight quality starts, permitting five runs across 20 2/3 innings combined. Lindor and Jose Ramirez are both 3-for-7 versus Montas, who held Cleveland to two runs on eight hits over six innings with seven strikeouts in a no-decision on May 10.

Rodriguez ended his own streak of three straight quality starts last Friday when he yielded four runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings of work. The 25-year-old Dominican Republic native allowed six runs across 19 innings in his previous three outings combined, but walked eight and struck out 12 during that stretch. Rodriguez beat Oakland on May 12 when he limited the Athletics to three runs over six innings despite a solo homer from Matt Olson.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland C Roberto Perez, who has six RBIs in his last seven games, left Tuesday’s game with a head injury.

2. Oakland RF Stephen Piscotty has reached base safely in 21 straight contests, which is the longest active streak in the majors.

3. Indians rookie OF Oscar Mercado is 5-for-13 with three doubles in his last four games after going 0-for-4 in his first two major league contests.

PREDICTION: Indians 4, Athletics 3

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OAKLAND vs CLEVELAND
GAME: Oakland Athletics (22-25) at Cleveland Indians (25-20)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 20 – 6:10 PM EST
WHERE: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
LINE: -170
PREDICTION: Indians 5, Athletics 4

Oddsmakers currently have the CLEVELAND listed as -170 point favorites versus the OAKLAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.

The Oakland Athletics will try for a second straight day to extend their three-game winning streak when they begin a three-game series at the Cleveland Indians on Monday. After taking the first three contests in Detroit by a combined 28-6 margin, the A’s had a 5-3 lead in the seventh inning Sunday before the game was suspended due to rain.

Oakland has won four straight series against the Indians, including two of three in a matchup at home earlier this month. Cleveland cruised to a 10-0 win over Baltimore on Sunday to take three of four from the Orioles and it has tied its high-water mark for the year at five games over .500. First baseman Carlos Santana has homered in consecutive games for the Indians and has eight RBIs over his last seven games. He and his mates will take aim at A’s veteran Brett Anderson, who starts the series opener opposite Carlos Carrasco for Cleveland.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (4-3, 4.41 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (4-3, 4.18)

Anderson has completed six innings in each of his three May starts, allowing exactly four runs in each of the last two. He served up three home runs in a loss at Seattle on Tuesday after getting through the previous six outings without allowing a single homer. The 31-year-old has spun 12 scoreless innings in his career at Cleveland’s Progressive Field and owns an 0.82 ERA in five career starts versus the Indians.

Carrasco has not allowed a run in 12 innings over his last two starts — both against the Chicago White Sox — while recording 12 strikeouts and zero walks. He is 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA at home this year and owns a 2.89 ERA in seven career matchups (six starts) against the A’s. Slugger Khris Davis is 1-for-12 with nine strikeouts against the 32-year-old from Venezuela.

WALK-OFFS

1. The A’s will complete the suspended game with the Tigers on Sept. 6 in Oakland.

2. Indians SS Francisco Lindor has multiple hits in five of his last eight games.

3. Oakland is 57-20 against American League Central teams since Aug. 23, 2016.

PREDICTION: Indians 5, Athletics 4

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OAKLAND vs DETROIT
GAME: Oakland Athletics (20-25) at Detroit Tigers (18-24)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 17 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Detroit
LINE: 145
PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Tigers 3

Oddsmakers currently have the DETROIT listed as 145 point favorites versus the OAKLAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Oakland Athletics have been dreadful on the road this season but a visit to Comerica Park and a matchup with the Detroit Tigers again proved to be a perfect tonic. The Athletics stomped the Tigers in the series opener and will look to extend their winning streak in the series to 14 in a row when the teams resume their four-game set Friday night in Detroit.

Oakland had lost three straight overall and 11 of 12 away from home before mauling the Tigers 17-3 behind a grand slam from Jurickson Profar to make it eight straight wins at Comerica Park. Catcher Josh Phegley also homered as part of a four-hit, four-RBI day for the Athletics, who last lost to Detroit on May 5, 2017. The Tigers will try to avoid matching a season-worst five-game slide but they have been outscored by a staggering 41-9 margin in the first four contests of their 10-game homestand. “This is a tough stretch, but you can’t get embarrassed,” second baseman Josh Harrison said after Thursday’s debacle. “You just forget about it and try to win the next one.”

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Frankie Montas (4-2, 2.78 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Daniel Norris (2-1, 3.63)

Montas registered his second straight quality start last time out but again came away with a no-decision after striking out a season-high seven and allowing two runs on eight hits against Cleveland. A winner in four of his five starts this season, he pitched six strong innings in his previous turn and held Pittsburgh to one run on five hits over six innings. Nicholas Castellanos is 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs off Montas, who is 1-2 with a 10.64 ERA in four appearances versus Detroit.

Norris continues to acquit himself well since he was shifted to the starting rotation and is coming off a strong effort at Minnesota on Sunday, picking up the victory by allowing two runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old worked five innings in each of his previous four starts, permitting no more than three runs or five hits in three of them. Norris had made only one start against Oakland, giving up five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 hits, and owns a career 4-13 record and 5.29 ERA at Comerica Park.

WALK-OFFS

1. Profar has nine RBIs in his last nine games despite going 5-for-33 in that span.

2. Tigers INF/OF Niko Goodrum is mired in a 1-for-14 slump.

3. Phegley is 6-for-12 during a three-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Tigers 3

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OAKLAND vs DETROIT
GAME: Oakland Athletics (19-25) at Detroit Tigers (18-23)
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 16 – 1:10 PM EST
WHERE: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Detroit
LINE: 100
PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Tigers 3

Oddsmakers currently have the DETROIT listed as 100 point favorites versus the OAKLAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

A pair of teams looking to end their respective losing streaks meet Thursday in Detroit where the Tigers open a four-game series with the visiting Oakland Athletics. Detroit was outscored 24-6 while losing three straight to Houston to begin its homestand, capped by Wednesday’s 5-1 defeat.

The Athletics have also lost three straight as well as 11 of their last 12 on the road after dropping two at Seattle to start their road trip. “I don’t feel like they’re thinking (about) that,” manager Bob Melvin told reporters of the road woes. “We came on the road trip. We felt good. (Monday) we had a lead and gave it up. (Tuesday) we felt like we had a chance to score some runs late and we didn’t. I don’t think it’s something we’re thinking about. The record’s not great.” Right-hander Chris Bassitt will try to help Oakland turn around its road struggles when he starts the series opener. Spencer Turnbull gets the nod for the Tigers, who have lost 12 straight against the A’s dating to May 5, 2017.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (1-1, 2.55 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Spencer Turnbull (2-2, 2.42)

Bassitt worked a season-high 7 2/3 innings while allowing three runs in a tough loss against Cincinnati his last time out. He struck out nine for the second time in his four starts and has 31 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings on the season. Nicholas Castellanos is 4-for-8 with three doubles against the 30-year-old Bassitt, who has a 4.56 ERA in four career starts versus Detroit.

After opening 0-2 with a 4.80 ERA through his first three starts, Turnbull has gone 2-0 with a 1.21 ERA over a span of five outings. He had some command issues in a no-decision at Minnesota on Saturday, issuing a season high-tying four walks, but he yielded only four hits in 5 2/3 innings and opponents are batting .218 against the 26-year-old. Turnbull, who has never faced Oakland, is 0-2 in five career starts at Comerica Park.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera (knee) was out of the lineup Wednesday and is day-to-day.

2. Athletics RF Stephen Piscotty has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 contests.

3. Detroit INF/OF Niko Goodrum is 1-for-14 over his last four games.

PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Tigers 3

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OAKLAND vs SEATTLE
GAME: Oakland Athletics (19-23) at Seattle Mariners (20-23)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 13 – 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS California (Oakland), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
LINE: -130
PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Athletics 3

Oddsmakers currently have the SEATTLE listed as -130 point favorites versus the OAKLAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

Mike Fiers has a tough act to follow when he returns to the mound on Monday after tossing his second career no-hitter and 300th in Major League Baseball history. Fiers will try his best on Monday as the Oakland Athletics play the opener of a two-game series against the host Seattle Mariners, who have lost 21 of their last 28 contests following a 13-2 start to the season.

Oakland followed up Fiers’ no-hitter with three walk-off wins in the next four games before dropping a 5-3 decision to Cleveland on Sunday. Matt Olson belted his first homer of the season and Khris Davis singled twice in his return to the cleanup spot after missing three games with a bruised left hip. Omar Narvaez went deep for the second straight day on Sunday, but that was nearly the lone positive as Seattle was shellacked 11-2 by Boston and was outscored 34-8 in the series. The 27-year-old Narvaez has recorded two hits and scored a run in each of his last three games after collecting just five and two, respectively, in his previous nine contests.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Mike Fiers (3-3, 5.48 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Yusei Kikuchi (2-1, 3.54)

Fiers tossed 131 pitches in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Cincinnati, a total that was the most in a no-hitter since he needed 134 when he silenced the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 21, 2015. While the 33-year-old was in a celebratory mode following his no-hitter versus the Reds, Fiers was in a vastly different mood on March 20 after yielding five runs on four hits over three innings of a 9-7 setback versus Seattle. Domingo Santana highlighted a five-run third inning in that contest with a grand slam off Fiers, who sports a 2-2 mark with a 6.91 ERA in nine career starts versus the Mariners.

Kikuchi allowed one run on three hits in his second straight outing on Wednesday to pick up the win in a 10-1 romp at the New York Yankees. The strong performance did not come without question, as Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters that cameras showed a dark substance smudged under the brim of Kikuchi’s cap. The 27-year-old pitched a season-high 7 2/3 innings in that contest, although he lasted just 4 2/3 frames in a no-decision against Oakland in his native Japan on March 21.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle has recorded 18 homers and 37 extra-base hits in its last 10 games.

2. Oakland RF Robbie Grossman is 4-for-36 in his last 13 contests.

3. Mariners DH Edwin Encarnacion has 13 RBIs in his last 15 games.

PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Athletics 3

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CLEVELAND vs OAKLAND
GAME: Cleveland Indians (20-18) at Oakland Athletics (19-22)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 12 – 4:07 PM EST
WHERE: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), NBCS California
LINE: -130
PREDICTION: Indians 3, Athletics 2

Oddsmakers currently have the OAKLAND listed as -130 point favorites versus the CLEVELAND, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

The Oakland Athletics try for a three-game sweep of visiting Cleveland on Sunday after walking off on the Indians in the first two contests. Oakland prevailed 3-2 on Saturday when Ramon Laureano’s bloop hit found grass after right fielder Jordan Luplow slipped and fell before he could make the catch – one day after Matt Chapman’s home run in the 12th inning gave the Athletics a 4-3 victory.

Oakland, which has won four of its last five games, should have a more potent lineup Sunday as manager Bob Melvin told reporters that designated hitter Khris Davis (10 home runs) is expected back in the lineup after missing the last three games with a left hip contusion. Cleveland has lost five of its last seven games as its offense continues to sputter with 16 runs during that span. The Indians have scored the second-fewest runs in the American League at 3.5 per game and own the second-worst batting average in the AL. The Athletics on Sunday will recall Daniel Mengden from Triple-A Las Vegas as Mike Fiers gets an extra day off after his 131-pitch no-hitter while Cleveland counters with Jefry Rodriguez.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Jefry Rodriguez (0-2, 2.41 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (NR)

Rodriguez allowed two runs, seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts in six innings of a 2-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday – the second time in his three starts this season that Cleveland was shut out. “He’s been a pleasure,” Indians manager Terry Francona told reporters about the 6-foot-6, 25-year-old Dominican native, who was acquired from Washington in the Yan Gomes trade in November. “He’s open-minded to listening to (pitching coach) Carl (Willis) and those guys. There’s a lot to work with. …” Rodriguez boasts a 1.07 WHIP and .221 batting average against and has walked only five in 18 2/3 innings after issuing 37 free passes in 52 innings last season.

This marks the fourth straight season that Mengden will split time between the minors and Oakland. The 26-year-old Texan was 3-2 with a 2.77 ERA in seven games (six starts) with Las Vegas this season, and sports a 2.69 career ERA over 200 2/3 innings in Triple-A and a 4.64 ERA in 230 2/3 frames with the Athletics. Mengden was ineffective in his only appearance against Cleveland, yielding five runs and seven hits (three home runs) in 3 1/3 innings of a 5-3 loss in his 2017 season debut with Carlos Santana providing one of the blasts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Indians CF Leonys Martin on Saturday struck out in his 20th consecutive game before homering in the fifth inning and tying the contest on a single with two outs in the ninth.

2. The Athletics have won nine of the last 10 meetings in Oakland and haven’t lost a series to Cleveland at home since 2014.

3. Indians 3B Jose Ramirez (.204) walked twice Saturday and has reached base in 20 straight games – the longest active streak in the American League and only behind the Chicago Cubs’ Kris Bryant, who has a 21-game run.

PREDICTION: Indians 3, Athletics 2

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