Yankees vs Athletics Pick: The 1st Place Bombers Visit the Surprising A’s (May 9)

• Our Yankees vs Athletics pick checks in on the Bronx Bombers traveling to Sacramento to play the A’s
• New York has had its share of struggles, but just won 2 straight over the contending Padres
• The A’s lost 2 of 3 in their AL West showdown with the 1st place Mariners, but they’re one of MLB‘s biggest surprises

New York Hopes to Build Consistency After 2 Big Wins Over Padres

The Yankees might be in first place in the AL East, but that is largely due to the division’s mediocrity, more than their solid play. They are 21-16 and still trying to get their offense going with some semblance of regularity.

Aaron Judge has been incomparable. Trent Grisham has been a wonder. But the rest of the offense has been hit or miss. Even Paul Goldschmidt, who is batting .341, only has 3 home runs.

Before the season, seeing the A’s on the schedule might have elicited a belief that this would be an easy series. However, the A’s have other ideas and are contending in their own right.

The wins over the Padres were important because the Yankees had late comebacks in both. In the series’ final game, they got a great performance from reliever Devin Williams, who has been a disaster this season.

New York sends Will Warren to the hill. The young righty has been inconsistent. He has trouble with his control and has walked 15 in 28.2 innings. In addition, he has surrendered 29 hits and 18 earned runs. In his last two starts against the Orioles and Rays, he pitched 8 innings, gave up 13 hits, 9 earned runs, and walked 5.

He has never faced the Athletics.

At 20-18, the A’s Are an MLB Surprise

The A’s are essentially homeless as they wait until they can move to Las Vegas. They are playing at a minor league park in Sacramento and are still working on a shoestring budget. But manager Mark Kotsay has them believing in themselves, and they’re right behind the Mariners in the division and ahead of preseason favorites the Astros and Rangers.

The A’s start Osvaldo Bido. Bido has pitched respectably. His ERA is 4.71, but it was blown up by giving up 8 earned runs in 5.1 innings against the Rangers.

The A’s have young talent at the plate, particularly Jacob Wilson. He has a .357/.383/.476 slash line and is oozing with confidence. Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker are tied for the team lead in home runs with 9.

The only Yankees hitter Bido has faced is Cody Bellinger. Bellinger is 2 for 5 with 2 singles and 2 RBI against Bido.

Yankees vs Athletics Pick: The A’s Will Keep the Score Within 1.5 Runs

Warren has had issues with his control and has been shaky in his last two starts. Bido has his own issues.. Judge is the obvious centerpiece of the Yankees’ lineup. Although they have shown signs of life of late, the 1.5 run spread is too high considering how much power the A’s have and Warren’s recent problems. The A’s will keep the game within 1.5 runs.