SPORTS N STUFF

Sports betting players will usually give the benefit of the doubt to the home team in baseball, especially when that team is the New York Yankees, who have owned Oakland at home over the last couple of years. The Athletics are back in town this weekend, and theyll be happy to come away with one win.

What: MLB Betting
When: Friday, July 22nd Sunday, July 24th
Where: Yankee Stadium, New York, NY
Pick: New York Yankees

Friday, 7:05 PM ET Trevor Cahill (8-8, 3.16) vs. Phil Hughes (1-2, 8.44)

Cahill has lost his last three decisions, and walks are a problem as he ranks second in the American League in that category. Now he faces the Yankees, against whom he has lost all three of his career starts while posting a 9.72 ERA, and Cahill was knocked for eight runs in four innings in his lone start in the Bronx. Hughes is regaining his game after spending two and a half months on the disabled list and in the minors, earning his first win of 2011, and he is 2-0 in five games (two starts) against Oakland with a 1.62 ERA over his career. Hughes also has two holds against the Athletics, but its fair for MLB betting players to be skeptical of him after such a long time on the sidelines.

Still, its the Yankees and theyre going to be favored at home on Friday night and theyve dominated Oakland in New York, winning nine of the last 10 meetings between the two at Yankee Stadium, with half of the games going over the posted total. The Athletics have to give Cahill some run support (he is 42nd out of 49 in terms of run support), but Hughes should be excited to make his first home start in almost three months.

Betting Edge: New York Yankees

Saturday, 1:05 PM ET – Rich Harden (1-1, 5.00) vs. A.J. Burnett (8-7, 4.19)

The Athletics have their own pitcher coming off the disabled list, although this is Hardens second tour in Oakland (he spent the first six years of his career there), so they know what to expect from the injury-prone righthander. Harden is 1-3 in nine games (seven starts) against the Yankees with a 5.10 ERA, and he had a horror time in his lone start at the new Yankee Stadium, allowing four runs in 3.2 innings, but he also racked up six walks in that time (although he had five strikeouts as well). Burnett has been all over the place as of late, and he walked six Rays in a no-decision against Tampa Bay: he now leads the American League in that category. Burnett is now 5-3 in 10 starts against the Athletics with a 3.74 ERA, and the 34-year-old is 6-4 in 12 home starts with a 4.09 ERA.

If youre going to bet on the over for any MLB betting total in this series, its this one because both of these pitchers are just as liable to strike out seven as they are to walk seven…..in the same outing. Burnett has been getting great run support (20th out of 49 pitchers), which means Harden has to be at the top of his game. That is something we wouldnt wager on.

Betting Edge: New York Yankees

Sunday, 1:05 PM ET – Gio Gonzalez (9-6, 2.33) vs. Bartolo Colon (6-6, 3.43)

Gonzalez, who is coming off his first All-Star appearance, tossed seven scoreless innings against Los Angeles in his first start after the break, but the 25-year-old hasnt fared well against the Yankees, going 1-3 in four starts with a 6.33 ERA, although his lone win came in New York. Colon has lost his last three starts, allowing 10 runs over 12.2 innings, but he has decent numbers in 17 games (16 starts) against the Athletics, going 7-5 with a 3.36 ERA. Strangely, the 38-year-old has been better on the road than at home, where he is 2-3 in seven games (five starts) with a 2.97 ERA, more than a run higher than away from New York.

The Athletics arent known for their offensive prowess, but Gonzalez ranks 19th in that list of 49 in run support, and he doesnt need that many. Colon is fading fast after a blazing start to the season, and that is why the Athletics will avoid a sweep this weekend. Take Oakland in your Sports betting picks.

Betting Edge: Oakland Athletics