Oakland Athletics vs Ny Yankees Picks and Predictions September 20th 2024

At 9:40 PM ET, the Yankees and Athletics face off in an AL matchup. This one is taking place at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, and the Athletics are on a two-game winning streak. However, they are the +166 underdog on the money line, with the Yankees being favored at -198. The Athletics are 4th in the AL West, while the Yankees lead the AL East with a record of 89-64.

Friday’s forecast in Oakland calls for clear skies and temperatures in the low 70s. Gerrit Cole will start for the Yankees, while the Athletics are sending J.T. Ginn to the mound. NSPCA will be televising this one.

New York vs. Oakland Key Information

• Teams: Yankees at Athletics
• Where: Oakland Coliseum Oakland
• Date: Friday, September 20th
• Betting Odds NYY -198 | OAK +166 O/U 8

The Yankees Can Win If…

New York is sending right-hander Gerrit Cole to the mound today as he faces the Athletics on the road. Cole has made 15 starts this season and has a record of 6-5 to go along with an ERA of 3.97. In his last outing, he took the loss, going 4 1/3 innings and giving up seven earned runs to the Red Sox. Before that, he had pitched well, allowing a combined two earned runs in his previous two starts. Cole’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.27.

Not only do the Yankees lead the league in home runs, but they are also one of the top-scoring offenses in the league, averaging 5 runs per game. They have been even better on the road this season, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. New York’s offense has been led by Aaron Judge, who is hitting .321 for the season and has a league-leading 136 RBIs to go along with 53 homers. Over his last seven games, Judge is 8/23 with two homers.

As a team, the Yankees have the best home run total in the league and are also 1st in walks and 2nd in on-base percentage. Overall, they are batting .248, which is 9th in the MLB. Currently, DJ LeMahieu is on a five-game hitting streak, and Gleyber Torres has two homers in his last seven games.

• The Yankees are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Yankees are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• New York has an over/under record of 2-7-1 in their last ten games.
• The Yankees have an average of 4.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Yankees are 5-5
• Looking back across the Yankees last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• New York has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Yankees have averaged 4.1 runs per game on offense

The Athletics Can Win If…

J.T. Ginn gets the start for the Athletics today as he faces the Yankees at home. So far, he has made four starts and six total appearances. Ginn’s record for the season is 0-1, and he has an ERA of 4.94. Looking back at his last outing, Ginn finished with a no-decision after giving up three earned runs in four innings of work. In that outing, he gave up one homer. Ginn has a WHIP of 1.39 and batting average allowed of .281. Per nine innings, he is averaging 8.75 strikeouts and 2.28 walks.

As a team, the Athletics are averaging just 4 runs per game, which is 26th in the league. However, they are 6th in the league in home runs and have a team batting average of .235. Oakland’s offense has been led by Brent Rooker, who is hitting .304 for the season and is on a nine-game hitting streak. Rooker’s 110 RBIs is 3rd in the league, and he is also 5th in the league with 38 homers.

Over his last eight games, Rooker has gone 13/33 with three homers and 11 RBIs. Shea Langeliers also has three homers in this stretch but has just four hits in his last 24 at-bats. For the season, Langeliers is batting just .220.

• The Athletics are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Athletics are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Oakland has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Athletics have an average of 4.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Athletics are 5-5
• Looking back across the Athletics last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Oakland has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Athletics have averaged 3.8 runs per game on offense

End of an Era: A’s Open Final Oakland Homestand vs. Gerrit Cole, Yankees

The Oakland Athletics are set to begin their final homestand at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night as they take on the New York Yankees. This emotional series marks the beginning of the A’s farewell to their longtime home before their relocation to Sacramento next season.

Meanwhile, the Yankees (89-64) arrive in Oakland focused on securing the American League East title as they lead the Baltimore Orioles by four games. With a magic number of six to clinch the division, New York is motivated to close out the season on a high note. Despite a recent 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees remain confident heading into this key series.

For the Athletics (67-86), this series carries historical weight, as fans bid goodbye to the Coliseum, which has been the backdrop for countless memories in Oakland sports history. Major League Baseball has scheduled the Yankees and the Texas Rangers as the final two teams to visit, making this homestand a sentimental journey for both players and fans alike.

Gerrit Cole’s History at the Coliseum

Gerrit Cole (6-5, 3.97 ERA) will take the mound for New York, bringing with him an impressive track record at the Oakland Coliseum. The Southern California native boasts a 4-0 record with a 2.30 ERA in five starts at the Coliseum, and overall, he holds a 6-1 career record with a 2.53 ERA against the A’s.

Pitching in Oakland holds personal significance for Cole, whose wife, Amy Crawford, grew up in nearby Pleasanton and starred as a softball player at Foothill High. The couple met while attending UCLA, adding a personal layer to Cole’s ties to the Bay Area.

Cole will look to bounce back after a tough 7-1 loss against the Boston Red Sox last Saturday, where he faced criticism for an intentional walk that led to a rally for the Red Sox. “Clearly, that was a mistake,” Cole said. “If I make pitches after that and continue to execute at a high level, then the plan works.” Friday’s start offers Cole an opportunity for redemption.

A’s Look to Finish Strong

For the A’s, this final homestand comes on the heels of a positive road trip, where they won series against the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs. Oakland’s victories over the Cubs this week dealt a blow to Chicago’s postseason hopes, showing that the Athletics can still play spoiler.

J.T. Ginn (0-1, 4.94 ERA) will start for Oakland, seeking his first big-league win. A former second-round draft pick, Ginn has shown flashes of potential across six appearances for the A’s this season. This will be his first career outing against the Yankees, and he’ll face a tough lineup led by Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo.

Final Homestand Significance

As the A’s begin their final days at the Coliseum, emotions are sure to run high. Oakland’s players and fans alike are looking to finish on a strong note, with A’s star Brent Rooker expressing the team’s motivation: “We’re expecting a lot of people to come out and show up, so we’re expecting a good atmosphere. We understand there’s going to be a lot of mixed emotions, but we’re ready to just hopefully close on a high note.”

For the Yankees, this series is crucial in their quest to lock down the AL East title. With Gerrit Cole on the mound and the Yankees focused on solidifying their division lead, they’ll look to spoil Oakland’s farewell festivities.

Probable Starters:

• Yankees: Gerrit Cole (6-5, 3.97 ERA)
• Athletics: J.T. Ginn (0-1, 4.94 ERA)

Key Players to Watch:

• Yankees: Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rizzo
• Athletics: Brent Rooker, J.T. Ginn, Seth Brown

The Lean

Our lean for a money-line pick in this Yankees vs. Athletics matchup is to take the Athletics to come out on top at home. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is our 2nd lowest projected scoring game of the day, and this one has the lowest combined hits projection. For today’s starters, we have Gerrit Cole as the 5th best strikeout option compared to J.T. Ginn (12th).