jimmythegreek
The opening odds start here
Kansas City/Oakland over 4 even:
Not much has gone right for Trevor Cahill or the Oakland Athletics of late. Looking to win a fourth consecutive home start against the Royals, Cahill takes the mound seeking his first victory in more than a month as A's interim manager Bob Melvin makes his home debut Tuesday night. Melvin took over for the fired Bob Geren on Thursday but the last-place Athletics (28-39) didn't immediately show improvement, dropping three of four to the Chicago White Sox over the weekend.
Oakland fell 5-4 on Sunday and committed six errors during the series. The A's 51 errors are the second most in the AL - one behind Texas' total. The club's starting pitching also needs to get better, as Oakland starters have gone 0-10 with a 7.23 ERA during the team's 1-12 stretch. Cahill (6-4, 3.18 ERA), who had his turn moved up to Tuesday due to Monday's off day, will be looking to bounce back after tying the second-shortest start of his career his last time out. The right-hander lasted 2 2-3 innings and allowed a season-worst six runs in a 9-4 defeat to the White Sox on Thursday. Only a 2 1-3-inning, seven-run effort in May 2009 was shorter. After going 6-1 with a 1.79 ERA over his first 10 starts, Cahill has gone 0-3 with a 7.25 ERA in his four most recent outings. He hasn't won since May 9.
The A's have won 14 of 20 meetings with the Royals, who had lost 14 of 17 on the road overall before taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend. Kansas City (29-37) prevailed 9-0 on Sunday and outscored the Angels 18-9 during the three-game set. The Royals have won three of four since a 4-14 slump. Rookie Danny Duffy (0-2, 5.55) aims for his first major league win in his sixth try. The left-hander gave up season highs of five runs and eight hits over four innings of a 9-8 loss to Toronto on Wednesday.
We get a steal of a price here, and while the Royals have seen their seasonal numbers come back down to eath, they are still hitting at a collectible .263 clip. Jeff Franceour (.275 9 40) and Melky Cabrera (.277 9 41) have been the cornerstone of the run production, while Billy Butler (.307 6 29) continues to lead the team in overall hitting. That trio along with Alex Gordon (.285 7 36) should be able to get their licks in against a struggling Cahill. On the flip side, perhaps the return home could be what Oakland needs to get back to their winning ways. Other than Josh Willingham (.235 10 41), a part of their offensive swoon could be because they play in a pitcher friendly ballpark as relevant by their .238 BA. Tonight is as good a chance as any to right the ship against an inexperienced and beaten around Duffy. Best of luck however you play!
Not much has gone right for Trevor Cahill or the Oakland Athletics of late. Looking to win a fourth consecutive home start against the Royals, Cahill takes the mound seeking his first victory in more than a month as A's interim manager Bob Melvin makes his home debut Tuesday night. Melvin took over for the fired Bob Geren on Thursday but the last-place Athletics (28-39) didn't immediately show improvement, dropping three of four to the Chicago White Sox over the weekend.
Oakland fell 5-4 on Sunday and committed six errors during the series. The A's 51 errors are the second most in the AL - one behind Texas' total. The club's starting pitching also needs to get better, as Oakland starters have gone 0-10 with a 7.23 ERA during the team's 1-12 stretch. Cahill (6-4, 3.18 ERA), who had his turn moved up to Tuesday due to Monday's off day, will be looking to bounce back after tying the second-shortest start of his career his last time out. The right-hander lasted 2 2-3 innings and allowed a season-worst six runs in a 9-4 defeat to the White Sox on Thursday. Only a 2 1-3-inning, seven-run effort in May 2009 was shorter. After going 6-1 with a 1.79 ERA over his first 10 starts, Cahill has gone 0-3 with a 7.25 ERA in his four most recent outings. He hasn't won since May 9.
The A's have won 14 of 20 meetings with the Royals, who had lost 14 of 17 on the road overall before taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend. Kansas City (29-37) prevailed 9-0 on Sunday and outscored the Angels 18-9 during the three-game set. The Royals have won three of four since a 4-14 slump. Rookie Danny Duffy (0-2, 5.55) aims for his first major league win in his sixth try. The left-hander gave up season highs of five runs and eight hits over four innings of a 9-8 loss to Toronto on Wednesday.
We get a steal of a price here, and while the Royals have seen their seasonal numbers come back down to eath, they are still hitting at a collectible .263 clip. Jeff Franceour (.275 9 40) and Melky Cabrera (.277 9 41) have been the cornerstone of the run production, while Billy Butler (.307 6 29) continues to lead the team in overall hitting. That trio along with Alex Gordon (.285 7 36) should be able to get their licks in against a struggling Cahill. On the flip side, perhaps the return home could be what Oakland needs to get back to their winning ways. Other than Josh Willingham (.235 10 41), a part of their offensive swoon could be because they play in a pitcher friendly ballpark as relevant by their .238 BA. Tonight is as good a chance as any to right the ship against an inexperienced and beaten around Duffy. Best of luck however you play!
