MLB Baseball
2012-07-27 - Oakland Athletics at Baltimore Orioles
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Friday 27 July 2012 - First Pitch 7:05pm ET
12:05am (British Standard Time)
Preview
This is the start of a three game series at Camden Park between two teams that have serious ambitions of making the post-season, although one of them has been flying while the other is just trying to keep treading water.
The Oakland Athletics (53-45) have won 16 of their last 19 games and have moved into contention in the American League West and they are now just 5.5 games behind the Texas Rangers within their Division. They do hold one of the two Wild Card spots at the moment, but that is promising to be a tight race that goes to the wire.
Baltimore (52-47) made an incredibly fast start to the season in the tough American League East, but they have been struggling for consistency and find themselves trailing the New York Yankees by 7.5 games in the Division. However, they are more than in touch with the Wild Card spots which increases the importance of this series despite there still being a couple of months of the regular season to go.
The Orioles will give the ball to Zach Britton who will be making his third start of the season. Britton has gone 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA this season and he is coming off a strong performance where he didn't give up a run in 6 innings pitched as the Orioles beat Cleveland on Sunday.
Britton split his two previous games against Oakland, giving up 6 runs in his first game and just 1 run in the other.
Jarrod Parker will be used by the Athletics to counter Britton and he has a solid 7-4 record and a 3.00 ERA. He gave up 1 run in his last start against the New York Yankees and he has allowed less than 2 runs in 5 of his last 7 starts.
Parker will look to continue his solid run on the road where he is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his last three starts.
Head to Head
Baltimore lead the season series between the teams 2-1 after taking that series here earlier in the year.
That series win has contributed to their 6-2 record at Camden Park over the last 8 games here between these two teams.
Baltimore are 24-24 at home this season, Oakland are 24-24 on the road.
Prediction
This could very easily develop into a pitching duel tonight as both starters have experienced a lot of success in recent starts, but I think the Oakland A's have the edge in terms of confidence, despite losing last night.
Baltimore have lost 9 of their last 12 home games and they are struggling to drive in runs and might have a tough time in their first look at the rookie Jarrod Parker.
I am a little surprised the A's are considered the dogs in this one and I am going to back them to win this one.
The Pick :
Baltimore Orioles 2-3 Oakland Athletics
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Oakland Athletics @ 2.05
