2* Oakland A's 1st 5 innings -133
1* Detroit/Oakland under 8.5 -108
Tigers havnt seen too much of Zito this year, and that favors Mr. Zito favorably. Went 8 strong innings vs. Detroit in the 3rd week of the year, and they havnt seen him since. I think Detroit takes a few AB's to get to him.
Game is in Oakland. Detroit scored 4 runs per game off the average Yankee staff on the road, then scored 7 per game at home in Detroit. Now Detroit must travel out west, and try to put up some good offensive numbers vs. a pitcher who can be lights out when he is on. After a huge series win, I think Detroit has a bit of an emotional layover here in the beginning of this game, coupled with some west coast jetlag, and Zito's big breaking ball induces groundballs and can save him from any jams.
Oakland struggles to score runs offensively, they are not an explosive offense and I have no problem taking the under in certain spots throughout this entire series. Oakland needed a Herculean effort from Frank Thomas and *gulp* Marco Scutarro to score vs. Minnesota. I think the Big Hurt's best games are behind him, as well as Mr. Scutarro, who I feel vs. good pitching is an automatic out and a hole in the lineup. This lineup can go ice cold at a moment's notice and I wouldnt put it past Oakland to struggle to plate runs in this series. However, if there is a pitcher to score against for Oakland, especially while they have some confidence, it is Nate Robertson.
Robertson is up for first for Detroit and it only gets worse for Oakland after that. Robertson typically gives up 3-5 runs per game pretty steadily, and I think Oakland plates 2-3 runs early in this game, and then who knows what happens late. With Zumaya in the bullpen, and the way this Detroit team has shown some fight to battle back, I wouldnt put it past them to make a late run in this game, but Im pretty confident they fall behind early and I like the home team Oakland A's to get on top early.
Oakland breezed through their series and have had the luxury to look forward to this game, and I think they come out early and focused tonight, particularly Zito.
Good luck
1* Detroit/Oakland under 8.5 -108
Tigers havnt seen too much of Zito this year, and that favors Mr. Zito favorably. Went 8 strong innings vs. Detroit in the 3rd week of the year, and they havnt seen him since. I think Detroit takes a few AB's to get to him.
Game is in Oakland. Detroit scored 4 runs per game off the average Yankee staff on the road, then scored 7 per game at home in Detroit. Now Detroit must travel out west, and try to put up some good offensive numbers vs. a pitcher who can be lights out when he is on. After a huge series win, I think Detroit has a bit of an emotional layover here in the beginning of this game, coupled with some west coast jetlag, and Zito's big breaking ball induces groundballs and can save him from any jams.
Oakland struggles to score runs offensively, they are not an explosive offense and I have no problem taking the under in certain spots throughout this entire series. Oakland needed a Herculean effort from Frank Thomas and *gulp* Marco Scutarro to score vs. Minnesota. I think the Big Hurt's best games are behind him, as well as Mr. Scutarro, who I feel vs. good pitching is an automatic out and a hole in the lineup. This lineup can go ice cold at a moment's notice and I wouldnt put it past Oakland to struggle to plate runs in this series. However, if there is a pitcher to score against for Oakland, especially while they have some confidence, it is Nate Robertson.
Robertson is up for first for Detroit and it only gets worse for Oakland after that. Robertson typically gives up 3-5 runs per game pretty steadily, and I think Oakland plates 2-3 runs early in this game, and then who knows what happens late. With Zumaya in the bullpen, and the way this Detroit team has shown some fight to battle back, I wouldnt put it past them to make a late run in this game, but Im pretty confident they fall behind early and I like the home team Oakland A's to get on top early.
Oakland breezed through their series and have had the luxury to look forward to this game, and I think they come out early and focused tonight, particularly Zito.
Good luck