A huge edge has to go to the A's tonight in the starting pitching department. Danny Haren has rediscovered his early season form, and has been nothing short of dominant. He's 3-0 in his last three starts with a 1.35 ERA and miniscule 0.95 WHIP. He's only given up 16 hits in 20 innings of work and struck out 22 while walking three.
His counterpart, Ted Lilly, is 1-2 in his last three games with a 6.06 ERA and has given up 22 hits in only 16 innings of work. Haren's won both of his career starts in Toronto, and the A's have hit left-handed pitching much better of late sporting a .289 batting average.
Oakland currently holds a 4.5 game lead in the AL West, while the Blue Jays find themselves 7.5 back in the AL Wild Card race and nine games out in the AL East. After unforgivingly dropping the doubleheader in KC on Friday, the A's got back to their winning ways by taking the Saturday and Sunday games. They've won eight of their last 10 overall, and continue to be one of the hottest teams in all of baseball. So hot that they've rattled off 19 wins in their last 24 games. That's crazy insane!
On the other hand, Toronto has fizzled out over the last month playing close to .500 ball. With the way New York has catapulted themselves in the AL East, it doesn't look like the BJ's will be extending their season past their 162nd game.
August is Oakland's month, and tonight will be their game against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
The Athletics have been on cruise control during the month of August since 2001, going 117-43! With Danny Haren in outstanding KW form (3 walks against 27 strikeouts in his last four starts), and Toronto's Ted Lilly in lousy current form (6.25 ERA last four starts), look for the A's to continue their winning ways north of the border here tonight.
SBR Top-Rated Sportsbooks
Athletics at Blue Jays - Aug 21st
Reply With Quote