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A’s -148
Although I liked the A’s much more when it was trading in the 30’s off the open, I still think there is enough value left on the table to warrant a large play. The Orioles have won 1 game all season. Although the market usually overextends the fades on teams like this, the A’s are simply not in favor with the marketplace (and oddsmakers) to trade at a premium right now. Sheets does not look sharp right now, but should slowly get better here on out. Despite allowing nearly 2 baserunners an inning, he still has been hard to score runs against. Now facing a team that has scored two or less runs in four of their last five games, Sheets has a good setup to get back into rhythm. Backed by a deep bullpen, the A’s have the leverage to pull the plug early if he continues his struggling ways.
I am not big on Hernandez. He is a flyball pitcher that walks a lot of batters. Although the A’s are not the ideal team to take advantage of the first deficiency, their patience at the plate should allow them to get some free passes. Hernandez should improved control during spring, but that went by the wayside in his first start, walking 4 batters. He is also not a good fit for the Orioles. He has average just 5 innings per game in his minor/major league games (19 pitches per inning). When backed by one of the worst pens in baseball, a bullpen that has been worked a lot and has been struggling, the Orioles will send sub par pitcher on the mound throughout. This is a recipe for disaster when combined with a struggling lineup.
Large
A’s -148
Although I liked the A’s much more when it was trading in the 30’s off the open, I still think there is enough value left on the table to warrant a large play. The Orioles have won 1 game all season. Although the market usually overextends the fades on teams like this, the A’s are simply not in favor with the marketplace (and oddsmakers) to trade at a premium right now. Sheets does not look sharp right now, but should slowly get better here on out. Despite allowing nearly 2 baserunners an inning, he still has been hard to score runs against. Now facing a team that has scored two or less runs in four of their last five games, Sheets has a good setup to get back into rhythm. Backed by a deep bullpen, the A’s have the leverage to pull the plug early if he continues his struggling ways.
I am not big on Hernandez. He is a flyball pitcher that walks a lot of batters. Although the A’s are not the ideal team to take advantage of the first deficiency, their patience at the plate should allow them to get some free passes. Hernandez should improved control during spring, but that went by the wayside in his first start, walking 4 batters. He is also not a good fit for the Orioles. He has average just 5 innings per game in his minor/major league games (19 pitches per inning). When backed by one of the worst pens in baseball, a bullpen that has been worked a lot and has been struggling, the Orioles will send sub par pitcher on the mound throughout. This is a recipe for disaster when combined with a struggling lineup.