Oakland A’s visit the White Sox in the South Side of Chicago

MLB Betting – Game Match-up 6/3

Oakland A’s vs. Chicago White Sox 8:11 ET

The Oakland A’s (20-30, -$845) evened up its 2009 MLB betting season series with the Chicago White Sox (25-26, -$65) last night at US Cellular Field by taking game 2 of the four-game series in shut-out fashion. Vin Mazzaro became the first Athletic to win his MLB debut since Dallas Braden did it back in 2007, and the A’s snapped Chicago’s season high four-game winning streak in the process. Once Mazzaro got past a shaky 1st inning, he settled into a groove that saw his night end once he got one out in the bottom of the 7th inning. When his night was done, the youngster tossed 6.1 innings of three-hit ball striking out one and walking four amongst 20 of his friends and family members in the stands. The victory was just the ninth Oakland earned on the road this season where they’ve cost its baseball betting backers $500+ on the year. The loss came as a major disappointment for Chicago and its baseball betting supports as it entered the game winners 10 of their L/13 overall contests. Righty Bartolo Colon just didn’t have it with an extra days rest allowing six hits and five runs (two earned) through 5.1 total innings of work. It wasn’t his entire fault though as the offense mustered just eight hits and left 13 men on base. The defeat dropped the White Sox to 13-11 (-$97) in their own house on the year.

Southpaw Clayton Richard and the White Sox currently sit as short -135 home favorites against Josh Outman and the A’s in the third game of this four-game series; the game ‘total’ has been set at 8.5 over -115 per the current BetOnline Sportsbook MLB baseball odds.

Lefty Josh Outman is coming off his second longest outing of the season against the Texas Rangers where he surrendered three hits and three earned runs through 6 2/3rd innings of work. The 9 K’s he accumulated was his highest mark of the season. He’s been pretty tough on batters of late going 1-0 with a 1.77 ERA and 0.93 WHIP his L/3 starts, and he’s been filthy overall allowing just 35 hits and 16 earned runs through 47 total innings of work. This will be his first career start vs. Chicago.

Clayton Richard has taken his second opportunity as a member of the White Sox starting rotation and run with it. In four trips to the bump as a starter, the southpaw has allowed just 19 hits in 23+ total innings of work while striking out 20 and walking 10. He carved up the weak hitting Kansas City Royals his last time out limiting them to just six hits and two runs while striking out seven in Chicago’s 11-2 win. He and the bullpen shut the Pittsburgh Pirates out 4-0 in his lone home start 10 days ago.

Each of the first two games of this series has crawled under the closing ‘total’ with ease, and with both of tonight’s starters in fine form, it looks as if tonight’s game will follow suit. That said; the wind will be blowing out to right field at a steady 12-15 MPH and HP Ump Jerry Crawford’s an ‘over’ guy as his 61% strike zone has seen an average of 11.6 runs scored per game. With Chicago getting shut-out for a league worst eighth time last night, look for them to be up to the task of solving the riddle that’s been Outman and for the A’s to get to the overachieving Richard as well…

Rose’s Recommendation: 2* Oakland/Chicago Over 8.5 -115 (Outman/Richard)

(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)