Oddsmakers are calling the August 21st Giants at A’s matchup a close one, making San Francisco a slight -115 favorite (OAK -105). The Athletics took the series opener 4-1 on Friday, their second straight victory after a 4-game losing streak.
Saturday afternoon’s matchup seems like it’s one where both teams have value. The A’s have rattled off five straight wins at home and are 10 games above .500 at RingCentral Coliseum this season. The Giants are sending Kevin Gausman to the mound though, and he’s in a battle with Walker Buehler for the NL Cy Young award. The run total is just 8 in this meeting which could be dominated by pitching.
Can Gausman Carry San Fran?
The Giants are 11 games above .500 on the road this season, and there’s definitely value on Gabe Kepler’s team as -115 favorites on Saturday. Kevin Gausman (12-5, 2.40) is on a personal 3-game winning streak, giving up just 5 ER over his last three starts. The Giants have won 6 of Gausman’s last 8 starts, and the right-hander has a 1.55 ERA in 13 road starts this season.
What San Francisco needs to get going in the August 21st Giants at A’s meeting is their offense. SF has scored a total of 6 runs in their last three games, and got their lone run on a Mike Yastrzemski solo HR in Friday night’s loss.
Before the doomsday prophecies commence, San Fran is still 9-3 over their last 12 games and do maintain a 1.5 game lead over L.A despite the Dodgers winning 9 of their last 10 games. The Giants have dropped 7 of their last 10 games against Oakland over the last few years however.
Do A’s Bats Get It Going?
There wasn’t a ton of action on the basepaths Friday night with the A’s outhitting the Giants just 6 to 5, but it was still a nice home win for Oakland returning to the Bay after a 10-game road trip. It was the 5th straight win at RingCentral Coliseum for the A’s, who swept Texas in three games by a combined score of 22-7 in their last home series.
The A’s were held to 4 runs in the first three of a four game series with the White Sox last series, and have another tough pitching matchup on the docket on Saturday afternoon. Gausman is probably destined to finish 2nd in NL Cy Young voting, and will meet the A’s for the first time this season. The Giants won 2 of 3 at home vs. Oakland back in late June.
As good as Gausman has been this season, Starling Marte absolutely owns the SF starter going 7 for 10 with 6 RBI vs. the Giants starter. Maybe this matchup is what Marte needs to break out of a 4 for 23 (.174) stretch over the past week. The A’s may need some run support too because Saturday starter Sean Manaea (8-8, 3.77 ERA) has allowed 15 ER in his last three starts.
August 21st Giants at A’s Pick
It’s looking like San Francisco all the way in this one. The Giants have been a -190 or higher favorite in four of Gausman’s last five starts, so getting the Giants at -115 is like a garage sale steal that you have to buy even if you don’t need it.
Giants 6 – A’s 1
Free Pick: Giants -115
