Two streaky teams square off in this Interleague series finale Thursday night in Boston. Both Miami and Boston have looked great at times this year and looked terrible at times this year. <\/p>\n
San Francisco Giants vs. Oakland Athletics MLB Betting Preview Matchup<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Preview<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s the start of another Battle of the Bay in Oakland Friday evening. These two teams don\u2019t like each other a bit, and you can bet the intensity level will be extremely high for this one.<\/p>\n Tim Lincecum used to be one of the top pitchers in baseball, but he is struggling mightily this year. Oakland\u2019s Jarrod Parker is one of the best young pitchers in the game. Will it be the veteran CY Young winner or the young star who wins this one?<\/p>\n Tim Lincecum has had a dreadful 2012 thus far. Lincecum is 2-8 with a 6.19 ERA this year. It is hard to believe that this is the same guy who won consecutive CY Young titles just three years ago. His velocity on his fastball has dropped in a big way, and it seems his confidence on the mound is down as well.<\/p>\n The Giants expected a nice boost offensively when Pablo Sandoval returned to the lineup, but the offense just isn\u2019t producing right now. San Francisco was shut out 6-0 by Jered Weaver and the Angels staff Wednesday night. Since the Dodgers have been struggling, the Giants are still right in the thick of the NL West race, but they\u2019ll have to start hitting.\u00a0\u00a0[dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n Oakland is coming off an impressive sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yoenis Cespedes provided the fireworks as the Athletics won the series finale in walk off style. Cespedes belted a fastball for a three-run homer to send the A\u2019s to a 4-1 victory yesterday afternoon.<\/p>\n Oakland is a scrappy team that has to win a lot of close low-scoring games. Oakland has the worst team batting average in the majors. Jarrod Parker has been brilliant this year for the Athletics. Parker has a stellar 2.82 ERA in 2012.<\/p>\n Parker has a 1.59 ERA at home so far this year. He has three shutouts in his last four starts.<\/p>\n Lincecum has been off badly this year, and Parker is proving he is extremely tough to beat. The Athletics look like a good play here.<\/p>\n
\nStarting Pitchers: San Francisco (Lincecum) vs. Oakland (Parker)
\nDate\/Time: June 22, 10:05 p.m. EST
\nMLB Gambling Odds from BetOnline
\nMoneyline: Oakland (-120) San Francisco (+110)
\nRunline: Athletics -1.5 (+175) vs. Giants +1.5 (-205)
\nTotal: 7<\/strong><\/p>\n