AAA's SITUATIONAL PITCHING MISMATCH! 486-342 +$81,450 S/ JAN!
(MLB) Oakland vs. Chi White Sox, 09/10/2014 4:10 PM, Score: 1 - 2
Money Line: -170.00 Oakland (Away)
Result: Loss
This is a 6* SITUATIONAL PITCHING MISMATCH on the Oakland Athletics.

I am a situational handicapper at heart, in the final two months of MLB's regular sesaon, being able to understand when a good team is about to go on an upswing is a talent the seperates the casual gambler from the pro. Oakland has been waffling along offensively since trading slugger Yoenis Cespidis for ace pitcher Jon Lester; Lester struck out eight in last night's 11-2 beatdown victory over the anemic White Sox and suffice it to say, I think that offensive explosion will be built upon here, the A's comes into this contest with a ton of confidence and now it's time for Jeff Samardija to get the job done. Yesterday's onslaught was led by Josh Donaldson who was 5 for 6 with four RBIs; note that Donaldson has been feasting on Chicago pitching this year, he's 8 of 18 (.444) with two home runs and seven RBIs in four games thus far. Samardzija (4-5, 3.70 ERA) must certainly feel encouraged here, he'll make it a point to try and duplicate Lestor's effort after losing four of five starts. Most recently Samardzija would get stung for four runs in a 4-3 loss to Houston on Friday: "I think the last three (starts) I've had some really good stuff. The longball bit me today. That's really the best way to put it," said Samardzija afterwards. Despite his poor win/loss record of late, note that Samardzija had given up just a combined four runs in 16 innings spanning two starts before his last setback. And a date vs. the White Sox is just what the doctor ordered to get untracked, Samardzija has gone nine innings and hasn't even given up a single earned run in each of his last two starts vs. them; most recently he gave up one unearned run, three hits and two walks while striking out seven in his lone matchup vs. them on May 5th while with the Cubbies (it's also interesting to note that he's recorded his only career shutout at US Cellular Field back on May 27th, 2013 while with Chicago). So all of that is really bad news for the home side which has lost 15 of its last 20 overall. Chicago will counter with Chris Bassitt (0-1, 7,36 ERA), who makes just his second major league start, he was shelled for five runs over 6 1/3's innings in his debut on August 30th, an eventual 8-4 setback to Detroit. "Momentum" is a funny thing, I think the conditions have all come together for the A's in this spot, I look for them to continue with the production at the plate and expect Samardzija to severely outduel his counterpart; lay the chalk and take OAKLAND.

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