3% Oakland (4:07 ET): I just touched on this game a bit with Joe Raineri on WagerTalk’s Last Call. It is crazy that we are talking about the A’s possibly being UNDERVALUED as a FAVORITE, but that is the case here. First off this team has now strung together five consecutive victories. Secondly, they have their best starter on the mound Saturday in Paul Blackburn, who has a 5-1 TSR (team start record) with a 3.34 ERA and 1.086 WHIP. Third, the A’s are facing Miami with Trevor Rogers on the mound. The Marlins are 0-6 in Rogers’ starts thus far. Lastly, the Fish just traded away Luis Arraez (their best hitter) this morning. 

It was by no means a “blowout” in last night’s series opener, but the A’s got the job done 3-1. The difference in the game turned out to be Brent Rooker’s two-run HR in the bottom of the 4th. Miami didn’t even score until the top of the ninth and note they were without Arraez, who was pulled from the lineup literally minutes before first pitch. With Arraez now officially gone, this Marlins lineup that is hitting .214 and scoring just 3.0 runs per game only gets weaker. You’re talking about the team’s best player and a two-time batting champion. For those remaining in the clubhouse, there also has to be a sense of shock over the trade (which few saw coming). 

The A’s obviously no longer have any real home field advantage, but Blackburn vs. Rogers is a matchup completely in their favor. Though Blackburn was roughed up last time out, that was at Baltimore. In fact, his last two times out he’s faced the Orioles and Yankees’ lineups. Now he’s back home (where his ERA is 1.42) and the lineup he’s facing was next to last in wRC+ with Arraez. The Oakland bullpen also looks to be in good shape here. Not in good shape is Rogers, who has yet to go a full six innings. A win today would give the A’s a .500 record, something that would have been considered unfathomable at the start of the season. They’ll be motivated while the Miami clubhouse has been waylaid. 3% Oakland (Play to -160)