The Oakland Athletics and the Cleveland Indians meet Thursday in MLB action from Progressive Field. This will be the final installment in a three-game set between these teams this week. The A’s eked out a win in the Tuesday opener, then on Wednesday Oakland kept it going with a three-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Oakland fell behind 3-1 early on in the Tuesday opener, but stormed back for an eventual 4-3 win in 10 innings. In game two, the A’s posted nine hits on the way to a 6-3 victory. Starter Frankie Montas put up 6.0 frames with one earned on two hits and three walks.
For the starting pitcher job in the Thursday game, the A’s will send out Chris Bassitt. Across his 144.0 innings this year Bassitt has 117 hits, 51 earned runs, 15 homers allowed, 33 walks, 147 Ks and a 3.19 ERA.
Over on the Indians’ side, they got off to a great start on Tuesday but could only come up with six team hits by game’s end. In the Wednesday matchup, Cleveland had a 2-0 lead until the seventh but couldn’t do much from there. Cal Quantrill managed two earned on three hits and three walks in 6.0 innings.
For Thursday’s game, the Indians will send out Eli Morgan as the starter. Over nine starts this year Morgan has a 1-4 record with a 6.09 ERA and 45 Ks in 44.1 frames.
The A’s are 4-1 in their last five Thursday games and 51-15 in their last 66 versus the AL Central. The under is 6-1 in Oakland’s last seven Thursday games and 8-3 in their last 11 in game three of a series.
Meanwhile, the Indians are 70-34 in their last 104 Thursday games and 8-20 in their last 28 versus a team with a winning record. Cleveland is 3-9 in their last 12 versus the AL West and the under is 7-2 in their last nine at home versus a right-handed starter.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the A’s. I like Morgan to pitch well here though; he’s been decent lately with four earned on 11 hits over his last two starts in 13.0 innings. As for Bassitt, he’s got just one earned on 11 hits and 15 strikeouts over his last two starts in 14.0 frames. This should be a fun starter battle, but I think ultimately Oakland has the edge.