Athletics vs Yankees AL Wild Card Game Odds, Preview & Pick
- The low-payroll Athletics have slugged their way into the AL Wild Card game.
- The New York Yankees and their record-setting 267 home runs await.
- With two of the best bullpens in the majors going at it, bettors may want to focus on which team will grab the early lead.
Two teams that started the season with drastically different aspirations will meet in the AL Wild Card game on Wednesday (Oct. 2), when the Oakland Athletics (97-65, 47-34 away) visit the New York Yankees (100-62, 53-28 home) at Yankee Stadium.
The A’s had the lowest payroll in the league entering the year and were coming off a 75-87 season. The Yankees, on the other hand, came within one game of reaching the 2017 World Series and then added NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton to their lineup of “Baby Bombers.” It was World Series or bust from the outset.
But after the Red Sox ran away with the AL East, New York finds itself in a one-game do-or-die against a team that is playing with house money at this point.
Below, find the full slate of odds, head to head comparison, and relevant betting trends for the 2018 AL Wild Card game.
Athletics vs Yankees: Moneyline, Runline, Over/Under
| Odds | OAKLAND ATHLETICS | NEW YORK YANKEES |
|---|---|---|
| MONEYLINE | +167 | -177 |
| RUNLINE | -1.5 (-125) | -1.5 (+105) |
| OVER/UNDER | O 8.5 (-115) | U 8.5 (-105) |
Thanks to their dominance at home, the Yankees are pretty sizeable favorites. But the A’s have been almost as good away from Oakland as they were in the Bay Area. Their 47 road wins were tied for third in the majors.
The A’s also managed to split their season series with New York (3-3), outscoring the Yankees 33 to 28. They won the last meeting comfortably, hammering the Yankees 8-2 in Oakland.
Athletics vs Yankees Statistical Comparison
| 97-65 | RECORD | 100-62 |
| 46-31 as underdog | RUN-LINE RECORD | 72-69 as favorite |
| 47-34 Away | AWAY/HOME RECORD | 53-28 Home |
| 3-3 (1-1 Away) | HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD | 3-3 (2-1 Home) |
| +139 | RUN DIFFERENTIAL | +182 |
| L. Hendricks (4.13 ERA, 1.38 WHIP) | STARTING PITCHERS | L. Severino (3.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) |
| 3.37 (3rd) | BULLPEN ERA | 3.38 (4th) |
| .325 (11th) | TEAM ON-BASE PERCENTAGE | .329 (7th) |
| .764 (5th) | TEAM OPS | .781 (2nd) |
| 227 (3rd) | TEAM HOME RUNS | 267 (1st) |
The A’s lost the 2014 Wild Card to the Royals, 9-8, but have no recent history in the one-game playoff.
The Yankees, on the other hand, came from behind to beat Minnesota last year. After Luis Severino was touched up for three runs in the top of the first inning, New York immediately rallied to make it 3-3 by the end of the first.
They relied on their deep bullpen from there. Four Yankee relievers combined to record 26 of 27 outs in the game while surrendering just five hits and one run.
Betting Trends for the 2018 AL Wild Card Game
| BETTING TRENDS |
|---|
| Home team has won three of last four AL WC games |
| Five of six AL WC games have been decided by multiple runs |
| Four of six AL WC games have stayed under the total |
| Oakland is 42-32-7 O/U away in 2018 |
| New York is 43-35-3 O/U at home in 2018 |
Prediction: 4-3 Athletics
On the one hand, the AL Wild Card Game has tended to be lower scoring. On the other, Yankee stadium is friendly to hitters and both of these teams have been hitting the OVER with consistency.
But with the strength of the bullpens and the short leash for both starters, expect runs to be at a premium.
Best Bet: Under 8.5
Sascha was a hockey player in his youth, a lawyer in his capricious mid-20s, and has been with SBD since 2014. He specializes in football, basketball, politics, baseball, and hockey.
