Athletics vs Twins MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
Oakland headed into the All-Star break bursting with confidence.
Winners of six of its last seven, and sitting at .500 on the year for the first time since 2008, when it was 51-44 at the half, but ultimately finished a disappointing 75-86.
OAK: Tommy Milone (8-6, 3.57 ERA) v MIN Cole De Vries (2-1, 3.00 ERA)
Date/Time: Saturday, July 14, 2012, 7:10 PM ET
Venue: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Broadcast: CSN-California (Oakland), FOX Sports North (Minnesota)
Line: Twins -133
Over/Under: 7.5 (120)
Nevertheless, they will look to extend the Twins misery, while continuing their recent success when they take on Minnesota in Game 2 of a three-game set on Saturday night at Target Field.
Oakland will need to put together a plan though, as they were swept by Minnesota, while being held to just a total of six runs back on May 28-30.
And allowing 15 runs in their last seven heading into Friday’s opener-seven of which came in that lone loss-is not going to help matters.
Pitching will be key, and the A’s will hope they get a strong outing from 25-year-old southpaw Tommy Milone, who will be the team’s No. 2 starter for the second half.
Milone posted his eighth win of the season behind a career-high nine strikeouts in seven innings, to help lift his team to a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Marines a week ago. The lefty’s previous best for strikeouts in a game was six, which he had done three times — including his last start at Texas on June 30. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
With that win, the A’s pulled to within 2 -1/2 games of Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot.
Aiming to put a stop to their run will be the Twins Cole De Vries.
The rookie right-hander has made five starts for the Twins this season and posted a 3.00 ERA while working at least five innings in each outing, and went seven scoreless innings at Texas last Sunday. De Vries limited a potent Rangers’ lineup to just three hits and garnered five strikeouts in the no-decision.
However, his first look at Oakland didn’t go so well, as he walked five A’s batters, before settling down through five total innings.
He will need to command of his pitches early if he wants to help the AL-worst Twins turn things around in this one.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Oakland–The A’s defiantly has momentum, and I expect that to continue behind a solid performance from Milone.
