The Yankees will have RHP Jameson Taillon (8-4, 3.94) on the mound against Oakland’s RHP James Kaprielian (7-4, 3.25). In a June series at Yankee Stadium, the A’s won the opener 5-3, but the hosts took the next two games by scores of 7-5 and 2-1. The last time the Yankees went to Oakland was in August 2019 for a three-game A’s sweep.
Yankees Finally Living Up to Expectations
It took a long time for the Yankees to get things figured out in 2021 as they dealt with injuries and poor performances. They have vaulted to the top of the Wild Card standings with an 11-game win streak and are now within reach of the AL East title as well. During the win streak, the Yankees have allowed more than three runs just twice while scoring at least five on nine occasions.
The Yankees have hit 30 home runs in 23 games in August while also posting their highest batting average of any month this season at .252. Giancarlo Stanton has five homers in his last 12 games while Aaron Judge has four, and both Joey Gallo and Luke Voit have three. Stanton, Voit, and Judge are all hitting over .330 during the Yankees win streak.
Taillon takes the mound for the 25th time this season, and the Yankees are 14-10 in his outings while the over is 15-7-2. He has pitched better at Yankee Stadium than on the road, where he is 3-3 with a 4.70 ERA.
Last time out, Taillon allowed three runs on five hits over five innings while striking out five in a 7-5 win over Minnesota. The Yankees have scored 32 runs in his last four starts, and he has gone at least five innings in 11 straight starts. Ironically the last time he didn’t go five was in a 5-3 loss to Oakland on June 18 as he allowed two runs on four hits over 4 ⅔ innings.
A’s Struggling in August
Unlike the Yankees, Oakland has not been able to find their footing in August, going 2-8 in the last ten games. The A’s have allowed at least five runs in six of those eight losses and have been held to four runs or less in eight of the last ten games.
It has been a rough season at the plate for All-Star third baseman Matt Chapman with a .221 average and only 19 home runs. However, he has found the swing lately with a .294 average and five home runs in his last 11 games. Matt Olson, who took Taillon deep in June, has four homers in his last ten games, while Starling Marte is batting .327 with eight RBI since August 12.
Kaprielian was traded by the Yankees to the A’s in the 2017 Sonny Gray deal. He beat the Yankees, and Taillon, on June 18 with 5 ⅔ innings in which he struck out seven, walked one, and allowed three runs on three hits. In the sixth inning, D.J. LeMahieu and Rougned Odor took him deep, with Odor’s ending Kaprielian’s outing.
Last time out, the right-hander beat San Francisco on Friday as he allowed one run on three hits over five innings. He is 5-2 with a sparkling 1.47 ERA at home this season. Oakland is 10-6 in Kaprielian’s 16 starts, and the over is 9-7-1.
Betting Analysis
- New York Yankees -115 money line -1.5 run line (+135)
- Oakland A’s -105 money line +1.5 run line (-155)
- Total: 8.5 runs. Over -115, Under -105
The Yankees are 1-9 in Oakland since 2017, but right now are playing their best of the 2021 season. These teams appear headed in opposite directions with their playoff chances, and at this point, you have to keep riding the streaks. Take a look at the over as well, but the play is for the Yankees to push the win streak to 12.
FREE PICK: Yankees to Win (-115)
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