Oakland Athletics vs Cleveland Indians Predictions, Odds and Previews 08/12/2021

Game Time: 1:10 pm ET, Thursday, August 12th, 2021

Venue:  Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

Where to Watch:  Bally Sports Great Lakes, NBCSCA

Athletics: 65-48 (2nd place, AL West) 
Indians:  55-56  (2nd place, American League Central )

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Oakland -170, Cleveland +150; Over/Under:  10 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Oakland -170, Cleveland +150; Over/Under 10 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Oakland -170, Cleveland +150; Over/Under 10 runs

Athletics: Aramis Garcia Out, Skye Bolt Out, Chad Pinder Out 

Indians:  Josh Naylor Out, Yu Chang Out, Daniel Johnson Out

M. Canha, LF
S. Marte, CF
M. Olson, 1B
J. Lowrie, DH
J. Harrison, 2B
S. Murphy, C
S. Brown, LF
M. Chapman, 3B
E. Andrus, SS

M. Straw, CF
A. Rosario, SS
J. Ramirez, 3B
F. Reyes, DH
H. Ramirez, LF
O. Mercado, RF
O. Miller, 1B
A. Hedges, C
E. Clement, 2B

Athletics:

Batting Average:  Matt Olsen (.287)

Hits:  Matt Olsen (111)

Home Runs:  Matt Olsen (28)

RBI:  Matt Olsen (74)

Stolen Bases:  Ramon Laureano (12)

Wins:  Chris Bassitt (11)

Saves:  Lou Trevino (18)

ERA:  Lou Trevino  (1.84)

Indians:

Batting Average:  Amed Rosario (.279)
Hits:  Amed Rosario (109)
Home Runs: Jose Ramirez (25)
RBI:  Jose Ramirez (68)
Stolen Bases:  Jose Ramirez (13)
Wins:  Aaron Civale (10)
Saves:  Emmanuel Clase (16)
ERA: Emmanuel Clase (1.71)

Managers:

Athletics:  Bob Melvin,  President: Billy Beane,  GM David Frost
Indians:  Terry Francona, President:Chris Antonetti, GM Mike Chernoff

The Surging Oakland A’s are 8-2 over their last ten games.  Logging 5 Unders and 5 overs.  They are a solid moneyline bet but a coinflip on the O/U.  They went 3-1 against the Angels, 1-1 against the Padres, and swept the Rangers in a three game series.

The wilting Cleveland Indians are 4-6 in their last ten.  Logging 6 Unders, 3 Overs and a Push.  They are dropping since the trade deadline as they are firmly and statistically out of contention. 1-4 against Toronto, 2-1 against Detroit, a lone win against the Reds, a lone loss to the White Sox (in the ten), and of course they dropped the first against Oakland in this home stand.

Statistical Comparison:

The A’s are 16th in overall batting, 17th in runs scored, 14th in Home Runs.  They are in the thick of the American League wild-card picture. 

Oakland’s pitchers are 7th in the league in team ERA, 5th in runs not scored against, and 5th in home runs not given up.  The pitching is the warranty… It helps that Lou Trevino just got his 18th save.

Indians batters are 13th overall, 19th in runs scored, 13th in Home Runs.  The problem isn’t the bats except that maybe they leave too many runners stranded.  They aren’t the Houston Astros or Yankees… but they aren’t the Texas Rangers.  The bats can hit at a slightly above average pace.

Indians pitchers are 19th in team ERA 4.43, 15th in runs scored against, 21st in home runs given up.  Their mound is soft and they will be working young guys and minor league call-ups for the rest of the way.

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The Athletics will start righty Chris Bassitt, he’s no hound, 11-3, 3.19 ERA, 147 Strike outs. Chris is a former 16thb ro0und pick, but has turned himself into an ace.  Big ears aside, the 32 year old Akron college product guts out wins in his 144 innings pitched this season.  His whip is 1.04.  He throws with great accuracy. He’s a solid Oakland A.  MLB odds say that Oakland’s offense isn’t quite ready for one of the wild card spots even though they are in the thick of the AL wild-card race.

The Indians will start righty Eli Morgan, he may be, 1-4, 6.09, 25 strikeouts, they will bring in other pitchers early and maybe often.  As the 8th round pick in the 2017 Eli may be getting a strong last look at how he can handle himself in the pros.  The entirety of his 2021 resume is 18 games and 44.1 inning pitched. He’ll be tossing in the minors again next year and wondering if the phone will ring.

Thursday off the shores of Lake Erie the A’s will not be a road underdog.  From first pitch on it will be a match up of Ace vs Rookie (with help from the entire rotation) and it should usher in the conclusion of the Indians season. I know, I know… The Indians are always seemingly an RBI single away from extra innings… but the team era will give up the runs (and homers) to keep Oakland’s dreams of a division lead alive. The Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians Tuesday night, and possibly Wednesday night (? game is yet to be played), but definitely Thursday.  This is hardly a clash of teams worth news coverage.  The Athletics odds are good.

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