2020-09-26 16:10:00 EDT
The Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners meet Saturday in MLB action from O.co Coliseum.
This will be the first game of a Saturday doubleheader between the Mariners and A’s, and the second installment of a four-game weekend series. In the opener on Friday, we had an extra-innings battle as the A’s eked out a 3-1 win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The A’s had nine hits in the Friday win, but didn’t score until the bottom of the tenth inning. The winning swing came on a two-run homer from Mark Canha, and starting pitcher Chris Bassitt went 7.0 innings with five hits and no earned.
In the Saturday game one starting pitcher role, Oakland will go with Mike Minor. In his 11 games (10 starts) this year, Minor is 1-6 with a 5.92 ERA and 55 Ks in 51.2 innings. Over his MLB career, Minor is 71-66 with a 3.99 ERA and 1041 Ks in 1147.1 innings.
Over on the Mariners’ side, Friday starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi went 6.0 innings with four hits, no earned, three walks and five strikeouts in a no-decision. JP Crawford led a tepid offensive night on a 2-for-4 outing.
For Saturday’s game one starting pitcher, the Mariners are sending out Justus Sheffield. In his nine starts this season, Sheffield is 4-3 with a 3.75 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 50.1 innings. Over his MLB career, Sheffield is 4-4 with a 4.65 ERA and 84 Ks in 89.0 innings.
The A’s are 28-9 in their last 37 during game three of a series sand 10-4 in their last 14 games versus a right-handed starter. Oakland is 61-28 in their last 89 versus a team with a losing record and 44-18 in their last 62 versus the AL West.
Meanwhile, the Mariners are 10-4 in their last 14 versus a right-handed starter and 3-7 in their last 10 overall. Seattle is 2-5 in their last seven as an underdog and 3-7 in the last 10 on grass.
Pick: This might be a good spot for the Mariners to get one. Sheffield has been great this season. Since August 3, he’s gone 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA in seven starts and should be able to give Seattle some good innings here. I like Sheffield to stretch his outing if he’s on and give the bullpen a rest. If he can go six innings or so the Mariners will be in business.
