Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Oakland Athletics lefty Jon Lester, who won 16 games during the regular season, will take on 14-game winner James Shields and the Kansas City Royals in the win-or-go-home wild card game on Tuesday night.

After moving to the A's near the trade deadline, Jon Lester put up good start after good start, but he had a hard time getting run support from his offense. As an Athletic, he went 6-4 in 11 starts with a 2.35 ERA. He finished with a 16-11 overall record with a 2.46 ERA this season, and he struck out nine batters per nine innings while walking just two batters per nine innings.

In three starts against the Royals this year, Lester was 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA. Jayson Nix is 8-for-26 against him in his career with two doubles and three home runs, while Billy Butler is just 4-for-28 against him with five walks and 11 strikeouts.

James Shields had a solid second season for the Royals this year by going 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA. In 227 innings of work, he gave up 224 hits and walked just 1.7 batters per nine innings while striking out 7.1 batters per nine innings.

Shields was 1-0 against the Athletics this season in two starts with a 3.21 ERA. One player on the A's who he has never liked facing is outfielder Josh Reddick, who is 7-for-22 against him in his career with a double, a triple, three home runs and five RBI.

Oakland Athletics Betting Trends

Oakland Athletics are 77-75-10 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Oakland Athletics is 1

Kansas City Royals Betting Trends

Kansas City Royals are 73-81-8 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Kansas City Royals is 0.2

Injuries to Watch

Oakland Athletics

09/10/14 CF Craig Gentry Concussion out indefinitely
08/25/14 C John Jaso Concussion 15-day DL (9/8)
06/24/14 1B Kyle Blanks Calf 60-day DL (6/23)
03/30/14 P A.J. Griffin Elbow 60-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Fernando Rodriguez Elbow 15-day DL (3/21)
03/28/14 P Jarrod Parker Elbow 60-day DL (3/20), out for season

Kansas City Royals

09/03/14 2B Christian Colon Finger 15-day DL (9/7)
08/14/14 P Scott Downs Neck 15-day DL (8/3)
03/30/14 P Luke Hochevar Elbow 60-day DL (3/21)

Tony's Pick: Take Kansas City

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