MLB Betting: It should be a pitcher’s duel on Thursday as the Oakland Athletics visit the Kansas City Royals. The A’s are expected to be going with Jeff Samarrdzija while the Royals go with James Shields. Both pitchers have been very good this season so it should be a low scoring contest. Here is a look at the matchup and MLB picks.
Samardzija vs. Shields
The new addition to the A’s has been solid for the team since coming over from the Cubs. Samardzija is 3-1 with the A’s with a 3.08 ERA. He has 35 strikeouts and just 7 walks with a 3.08 ERA with Oakland. He is 1-0 in his last three starts with a 3.66 ERA. He has only pitched a third of an inning in his career against the Royals.
James Shields is 11-6 on the season with a 3.25 ERA. He has turned the corner in the last month as he is 3-2 with a 1.65 ERA in his last seven starts. He had an ERA of 5.66 in his previous eight starts. He is coming off a shutout of the San Francisco Giants on Saturday as he threw a four-hitter. In his last three starts he is 2-1 with a 1.17 ERA. He is 6-4 in his career against the A’s with a 3.78 ERA.
Game Notes
Before this four-game series began on Monday it was the A’s who had taken seven of the last 10. It has been a road team series though as the Royals won two of three in Oakland earlier this month. And the A’s took two of three last season in Kansas City. Five of the last seven in Kansas City have gone under the total. Both teams are in the top ten in the league in team ERA so this should be a low scoring contest.
MLB Picks
We’ll look for a low scoring game on Thursday that goes under the total and we’ll also look for the A’s to get the win in this series finale.
