Sonny Gray (3-4, 5.84 ERA) and CC Sabathia (2-2, 3.81 ERA) start in the second of a four-game series between the Oakland Athletics (19-23) and the New York Yankees (18-22) at O.C. Coliseum. The Yankees won the last game 4-1, and New York leads the series 1-0. Action begins at 9:35 p.m. ET on Friday, May. 20 and can be seen on CSCA and YES.
Gray pitched 5.2 innings in his last outing, surrendering six runs (three unearned), striking out four and walking two in a 7-6 win over the Rays. Danny Valencia (.352, 14 Rs, 6 HRs, 14 RBIs) went 1 for 4 yesterday. Sabathia went 7.0 innings, surrendering zero runs, striking out six and walking two in a 7-0 win over the Orioles in his most recent start. Carlos Beltran (.250, 20 Rs, 9 HRs, 22 RBIs) has been successful at the plate for the Yankees, going 2 for 5 yesterday with one run, one home run, and three RBIs.
The odds for Oakland and New York are even, while the Over/Under (O/U) is currently unavailable. The Athletics have seen an uptick in scoring as of late, averaging 0.0 runs during the last 10 games compared to their season average of 0.0 runs per game. Oakland’s pitching staff has been doing better against opposing offenses during the last 10 games, only allowing an average of 0.0 runs per game, well under their season average of 0.0. Opponents have consistently been struck out by the Athletics, who rank fifth in the AL in strikeouts per home game with 7.3.
Offensively, the Yankees have really picked up the pace in the last 10 games. They have exceeded their season average of 0.0 runs per game by averaging 0.0 during that stretch. The Yankees allow 0.0 runs per game, but have improved upon those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 0.0 runs per game during that span. When it comes to issuing walks, the Yankees have the second-fewest in the AL with an average of just 2.4 walks allowed per game.
The Athletics lead the season series, 3-1.
Predictions: SU Winner – OAK
Notes
Having scored one run in their last game, the Athletics are going to have to step it up if they want to win this matchup. The Yankees have a 4-1 record in games where opponents scored one run or less.
When they are outhit, the Athletics are 3-19. The Yankees have a 4-19 record when opponents outhit them.
Ranking 18th in home runs, New York has hit 40 this season. Oakland ranks 11th with 48 home runs.
Ranking 27th, New York is near the bottom of the league in hits, notching 7.77 per game. Oakland ranks in the top half at 14th with 8.54.
Oakland and New York both rank near the bottom of the league for their on-base plus slugging percentage. Oakland sits at 24th with an OPS of .695, and New York ranks 26th with an OPS of .685.
When the Yankees allow at least one home run, they are 13-17. When the Athletics allow one or more homers, they have an 8-20 record.
