If the Oakland Athletics want to stay ahead of the Tampa Bays Rays for the second Wild Card spot in the AL, they can’t lose to bottom dwellers like the Kansas City Royals, but that’s what happened last night. Look for the A’s to rebound today from yesterday’s 6-4 setback when the two clubs wrap up a 4-game set in a matinée at Kauffman Stadium. Oakland is expected to turn to Chris Bassitt to throw strikes and that’s exactly what he has been doing. Bassitt is 9-5, with a 3.59 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and is a perfect 2-0 in his last 3 turns with an ERA of 2.41 and a 1.07 WHIP. Glenn Sparkman is expected to take the hill for the Royals. Sparkman is having a season he would like to forget. He is 3-9, with a 5.52 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, and in his last 3 turns, he is winless at 0-2 with a 4.41 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. The Royals have won just 2 of their last 11 homestands and are 3-13 in Sparkman’s last 16 starts – not good. The Athletics could be without two key players, Khris Davis and Matt Chapman, but still get it done.
TODAY’S PICK: OAKLAND ATHLETICS