Betting on Baseball – Cleveland Indians vs. Oakland Athletics

Cleveland Indians (+1½) vs. Oakland Athletics (-1½)
O/U (8½)
Friday, September 18 – 10 PM ET.

The Oakland Athletics (68-78 SU, 79-65 RL, 68-73-3 O/U) will be looking to extend their four-game winning streak when they take on the lowly Cleveland Indians (61-85 SU, 65-81 RL, 70-67-9 O/U) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum tonight at 10 PM ET.

The A’s handled the Indians in their 5-2 win over Cleveland, cashing in for BetOnline MLB sports betting members as a -110 pick’em while the game’s seven combined runs played Under the 9-run O/U total.

Kurt Suzuki smacked a three-run homer to lead the A’s to victory while Michael Brantley and Trevor Crowe each had one RBI for the Indians.

Tonight, the Indians will give the ball to left-hander David Huff (10-7, 6.14 ERA) while the A’s counter with left-hander Brett Anderson (9-10, 4.37 ERA).

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and MLB Free Pick.

• Indians are 6- 2 in their last 8 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
• Indians are 3- 14 in their last 17 overall.
• Indians are 0- 4 in their last 4 vs. American League West.
• Indians are 4- 0 in Huff’s last 4 starts as an underdog.
• Indians are 7- 1 in Huff’s last 8 road starts.
• Athletics are 4- 0 in their last 4 overall.
• Athletics are 4- 1 in their last 5 games following a win.
• Athletics are 8- 3 in their last 11 vs. American League Central.
• Under is 7- 1 in the last 8 meetings.
• Indians are 6- 2 in the last 8 meetings.
• Indians are 7- 19 in the last 26 meetings in Oakland.

MLB Odds

• Cleveland Indians +1½ -150
• David Huff –L -140
• Oakland Athletics -1½ +130
• Brett Anderson –L -160
• Over 8½ Ev
• Under 8½ -120

The Scoop: The Cleveland Indians are ranked 9th in hitting, with a batting average of .266 while averaging 4.9 runs per game this season. The Indians are ranked 28th in pitching, with an earned run average of 5.04.

The Oakland Athletics are ranked 21st in hitting, with a batting average of .259 while averaging 4.6 runs per game this season. The Athletics are ranked 13th in pitching, with an earned run average of 4.32.

David Huff has gone 3-0 over his last three starts with a 2.84 ERA while Brett Anderson has gone 2-1 over his last three starts with a 4.50 ERA.

Analysis: The Oakland A’s are the correct pick tonight as they are on a decent roll and the lowly Indians are headed in the opposite direction.

While the Indians have gone a solid 6- 2 in their last eight road games versus a left-handed starter, they have also gone just 3- 14 in their last 17 games overall and an uninspiring 0- 4 in their last four games against American League West opponents.

Yes, Cleveland has succeeded with David Huff on the mound, going 4- 0 in Huff’s last four starts as an underdog and 7- 1 in Huff’s last eight road starts, but I’m sticking with the A’s as they have gone 4- 0 in their last four games and 8- 3 in their last 11 games against American League Central ballclubs.

Cementing this pick is the fact that the Indians have gone just 7- 19 in the last 26 meetings in Oakland.

MLB Free Picks: Athletics -1½ Runs