Friday, August 19, 2016

U.S. Cellular Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Kendall Graveman vs. James Shields

The Oakland Athletics visit U.S. Cellular Field on Friday to play the Chicago White Sox. The probable starters are Kendall Graveman for the Athletics and James Shields for the White Sox. The opening line for this matchup has Oakland at +100 and Chicago at -110. The over/under was set at 9.5. The Athletics have a 56-60-5 over/under record and a 65-56-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 54% of the time. The White Sox are 56-63-0 against the run line and have a 53-59-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 47% of the time.

The Athletics head into this matchup with a 52-69 record, including 24-34 on the road. Starting pitcher Kendall Graveman has a 8-8 record with an earned run average of 4.37 and a WHIP of 1.38. He has 80 strikeouts over his 134 innings pitched and he has given up 148 hits so far this season. He has allowed 9.9 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.64. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.93 and they have given up 386 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .240 against the bullpen while being struck out 393 times and walking 149 times this season. As a team, Oakland has allowed 9.36 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.46 batters per nine. They are 26th in the league in team earned run average at 4.66. The Athletics pitchers have collectively given up 1,117 base hits and 556 earned runs. They have allowed 146 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Oakland as a pitching staff has walked 375 batters and struck out 890. They walk 3.1 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.39 and their FIP as a unit is 4.42.

As a team, Oakland is batting .250, good for 21st in the league while putting together a .259 average away from home. The Athletics hold a .401 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .303 which is good for 28th in baseball. They rank 20th in baseball with 8.5 hits per game. Khris Davis comes into this game hitting .252 and his on-base percentage is at .292. He has 106 hits this season along with 58 runs scored and 75 runs batted in. He's struck out 118 times and has walked 19 times. Danny Valencia is hitting .298 and he has an on-base percentage of .349. He has totaled 104 hits so far while scoring 49 runs and he's driven in 43. He has walked 26 times and has struck out 85 times. The Athletics have 1,029 hits, including 193 doubles and 132 home runs. They've stolen 44 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 17 times. Oakland has walked 304 times this season and they've struck out 829 times as a unit. They've left 768 men on base and have a team OPS of .704. They score 3.98 runs per contest and have scored a total of 482 runs so far this year.

Chicago comes into this matchup with a 29-26 home record and a 57-62 overall mark. With an earned run average of 5.78, James Shields has a 5-14 record and a 1.60 WHIP. He has 88 strikeouts over the 132.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 155 hits. He has allowed 10.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.75. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.71 and they have given up 341 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .249 against the White Sox bullpen while being struck out 328 times and walking 177 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 8.88 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.69 batters per nine. They are 12th in the league in team earned run average at 4.08. The White Sox pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,052 base knocks and 483 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 134 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a staff has walked 405 hitters and struck out 911. They give up a walk 3.4 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.7 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.37 while their FIP as a staff is 4.33.

As a team, they are batting .252, good for 18th in the league while putting together a .254 average at home. The White Sox hold a .400 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .315 which is good for 21st in baseball. They rank 18th in baseball with 8.62 hits per contest. Jose Abreu comes into this matchup batting .280 and he has an OBP of .334. He has 129 hits this year along with 42 runs scored and 65 RBI. He's struck out 97 times and has walked on 30 occasions. Melky Cabrera is hitting .297 and he has an OBP of .343. He has collected 129 hits so far while he's scored 48 runs and drove in 54. He has earned a walk 32 times and has punched out 54 times. The White Sox as a unit have 1,025 base hits, including 199 doubles and 120 homers. They have 57 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 28 times. Chicago as a team has walked 341 times this year and they have struck out 956 times. They've had 821 men left on base and have an OPS of .714. They score 4.03 runs per game and have totaled 479 runs so far this season.

Oakland Athletics Betting Trends

The Oakland Athletics are 56-60-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Oakland Athletics are 65-56-0 against the run line so far this season

Chicago White Sox Betting Trends

The Chicago White Sox are 53-59-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago White Sox are 56-63-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Oakland Athletics

08/17/16 CF Tyler Ladendorf Wrist 15-day DL (8/17)
08/16/16 2B Jed Lowrie Foot 60-day DL (8/4); out for season
08/07/16 P Sonny Gray Arm 15-day DL (8/7)
08/07/16 P Henderson Alvarez Shoulder 60-day DL (4/6), out for season
08/06/16 P Jesse Hahn Shoulder 15-day DL (8/5)
07/23/16 P Fernando Rodriguez Shoulder 60-day DL (7/4)
07/03/16 C Josh Phegley Knee 60-day DL (7/2)
07/01/16 P Sean Doolittle Shoulder 15-day DL (6/26)
05/11/16 P Chris Bassitt Elbow 60-day DL (4/28); out for season
05/11/16 LF Mark Canha Back 60-day DL (5/9), out for season
04/05/16 P Frankie Montas Ribs 60-day DL (2/20)
04/05/16 P Felix Doubront Elbow 60-day DL (4/4); out for season
04/03/16 2B Eric Sogard Knee 60-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 CF Sam Fuld Shoulder 60-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P R.J. Alvarez Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Jarrod Parker Elbow 60-day DL (3/13), out for season

Chicago White Sox

08/13/16 P Miguel Gonzalez Groin 15-day DL (8/12)
08/10/16 RF Avisail Garcia Knee 15-day DL (8/7)
08/03/16 CF Charlie Tilson Hamstring 15-day DL (8/3)
07/27/16 2B Brett Lawrie Hamstring 15-day DL (7/22)
07/05/16 C Alex Avila Hamstring 15-day DL (7/6)
07/01/16 3B Matt Davidson Foot 60-day DL (6/30)
06/21/16 P Zach Putnam Elbow 15-day DL (6/21)
06/10/16 CF Austin Jackson Knee 15-day DL (6/10)
05/06/16 P Jacob Petricka Hip 60-day DL (5/2)
04/27/16 C Kevan Smith Pelvis 15-day DL (4/24)

Guy's Pick: Take the Athletics

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