A fun American League series gets started Thursday, August 26, 2021, when the New York Yankees (74-52, 35-27 away) visit the Oakland Athletics (70-57, 35-29 home). New York has been the best team in baseball since the trade deadline, while Oakland is currently on a long losing streak. This game will air live on MLB Network at 9:40 p.m. EST.
The New York Yankees are on an 11-game win streak and are still 4.5 games back of the first place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. Good news is that the Yankees currently occupy the first Wild Card spot and hold a three-game lead over Boston, in the second Wild Card, and 4.5 games over the Oakland Athletics, who are the first team out.
Oakland are five games back of the Houston Astros in the AL West but are just 1.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox for that final Wild Card spot. This is a massive series for Oakland as they can close the gap on New York in the Wild Card race.
Below is the ATS.io pick for this big American Leagues series between the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics. All odds are from Caesars Sportsbook.
New York Yankees (-116) at Oakland Athletics (-102): O/U 8.5 (-118/-104)
Pitching Matchup: Jameson Taillon (8-4, 3.94 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) vs James Kaprielian (7-4, 3.25 ERA, 1.17 WHIP)
NY Yankees Betting Trends
- NY Yankees are 10-0 SU in their last 10 games.
- NY Yankees are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against Oakland.
- NY Yankees are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road.
- NY Yankees are 1-9 SU in their last 10 games when playing on the road against Oakland.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Yankees’ last 5 games against an opponent in the American League West Division division.
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Yankees’ last 6 games played on a Thursday when on the road.
Oakland A’s Betting Trends
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland’s last 5 games.
- Oakland are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Oakland’s last 7 games against NY Yankees.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland’s last 5 games at home.
- Oakland are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games when playing at home against NY Yankees.
- Oakland are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games this season.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland’s last 6 games against an opponent in the American League.
Jameson Taillon is on a nice five game run here that has seen him allow three earned runs or less in all five starts. Taillon has been one of the better pitchers in the American League since the start of July and that Yankees have now won 10 of his last 11 starts. The righty faced Oakland back on June 18th and allowed two earned runs and four hits and 4.2 innings of work.
James Kaprielian has also had a nice five start stretch as he has allowed three earned runs of less in four of those starts. Kaprielian has allowed a combined 14 hits and six earned runs in 16.1 innings of work. The righty got the win against the Yankees, on June 18th, after allowing three hits and three earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched.
Series Recap: These two teams played back in June and played three close games at Yankee Stadium. New York won game two, 7-5, and game three, 2-1, to win the series. Oakland took the first game 5-3.
Prediction: Give me Oakland -102 to get the win in game one of this crucial four game series.