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The New York Yankees (89-64) and the Oakland A’s (67-86) open a 3-game series Friday. First pitch from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is set for 9:40 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Yankees vs. A’s odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 2-2
The Yankees have clinched a playoff spot after missing the postseason in 2023. Surprisingly, New York has had a difficult time with Oakland, splitting a 4-game set in the Bronx back on April 22-25. The Under cashed in 3 of those 4 meetings.
New York has won 6 of the past 7 games, while going 4-2 in the previous 6 outings on the road. The Under is on a 10-2-1 run in the past 13 contests, while cashing at a 5-1 clip in the previous 6 outings on the road.
For the A’s, they took 2 of 3 games in an interleague series at Wrigley Field in Chicago from the Cubs Monday through Wednesday. At home, Oakland is just 1-4 in the past 5 outings, while the Over is 4-1 in those games.
Yankees at A’s projected starters
RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP J.T. Ginn
Cole (6-5, 3.97 ERA) makes his 16th start. He has a 1.27 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 9.9 K/9 in 79 1/3 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 4 1/3 IP, 7 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K in 7-1 home setback vs. Boston Red Sox Saturday
- 2024 road splits: 4-3, 2.84 ERA, 38 IP, 12 ER, 6 HR, 1.13 WHIP, .222 opponents’ batting average (OBA), 11 BB, 44 K in 7 starts
- Last 7 games: 3-3, 2.79 ERA, 38 2/3 IP, 12 ER, 15 BB, 45 K, 1.14 WHIP
- Career vs. Royals: 4-1, 2.77 ERA, 52 IP, 16 ER, 6 HR, 11 BB, 65 K, 11.3 K/9, 0.94 WHIP in 8 starts
Ginn (0-1, 4.94 ERA) makes his 5th start and 7th career appearance. He has a 1.39 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 in 23 2/3 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 4 IP, 3 ER, 10 H (1 HR), 0 BB, 3 K in 7-6 road loss vs. Chicago White Sox Saturday
- 2024/career home splits: 0-1, 3.68 ERA, 14 2/3 IP, 6 ER, 1 HR, 1.23 WHIP, .236 OBA, 5 BB, 16 K in 4 appearances (2 starts)
- Has never faced Yankees
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Yankees at A’s odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of MLB odds. Lines last updated at 7:22 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Yankees -225 (bet $225 to win $100) | Athletics +180 (bet $100 to win $180)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Yankees -1.5 (-120) | Athletics +1.5 (+100)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)
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Yankees at A’s picks and predictions
Prediction
Yankees 6, A’s 3
Moneyline
The Yankees (-225) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s too much risk for the way Cole has been pitching lately.
The veteran righty is 1-2 with a 4.41 ERA across 16 1/3 IP in his 3 September starts, including 7 ER allowed in just 4 1/3 IP last time out. Still, against the A’s (+180), Cole and the playoff-bound Yankees should get it done.
PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
The YANKEES -1.5 (-120) are worth playing on the road in this series opener against the pesky A’s +1.5 (+100).
The Yankees are just 1-3 in Cole’s past 4 starts, so be careful. Play this one lightly, but back the visitors to get the job done by at least 2 runs.
Over/Under
OVER 8 (-115) is a solid play, as Cole has been shaky, and Ginn has been giving.
The A’s have alternated the Over and Under in each of the past 7 games, with the total going high at an 11-6 clip in the month of September.
For the Yankees, the Under is 5-1 in Cole’s past 6 starts, and the Under is 10-2-1 in the past 13 games. Be careful, and play a half-unit wager at most.
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