Oakland A’s Are Only One Game Out of a Wild Card Spot, But Have Long +210 Odds to Make the Playoffs

• Oakland trails Cleveland by just one game in the AL Wild Card race
• The Athletics have a favorable schedule down the stretch, including facing the Tigers, Royals, and Angels
• Cleveland continues to lead the way with -350 odds of making the postseason, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays at -300

It remains a tight three-way race for a coveted American League wild card spot as the 2019 MLB season enters the home stretch, with just 1.5 games separating the Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Oakland A’s. But despite sitting deadlocked with Cleveland and Tampa Bay in losses, and holding two games in hand, the Oakland A’s continue to lag behind their rivals, sporting lengthy +210 odds of clinching a berth in the postseason.

Odds to Make 2019 MLB Postseason

*Odds as of 03/09/2019.

Oakland Producing Steady Results Following Shaky Start

Oakland has emerged as one of the best teams in the majors since overcoming early-season inconsistency which left the club struggling to stay above .500 as recently as mid-June.

While the A’s have limped into September on a 4-5 run that has featured series losses to the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, they remain a strong 20-11 over their past 31 contests.

While the A’s have limped into September on a 4-5 run that has featured series losses to the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, they remain a strong 20-11 over their past 31 contests.  They prepare to open a six-game home-stand with Tuesday night’s series-opener against the visiting Los Angeles Angels.

The AL Wild Card race is a tight one down the final stretch of the season.

Here is how the strength of schedule plays out for each of the squads in the hunt: pic.twitter.com/wlrnGcgADt

— FOX Sports Florida & Sun (@FOXSportsFL) September 3, 2019

With the Detroit Tigers following Los Angeles into town this week, the A’s now have a golden opportunity to make gains in the Wild Card race. Both the Tigers and Angels find themselves mired in lengthy slumps that have seen them combine to post just 10 total wins since August 15.

A’s Enjoy Favorable Stretch-Run Schedule

Indeed, apart from a four-game series in Houston that starts next Monday, the A’s enjoy a favorable schedule down the stretch. In addition to this week’s clashes with Detroit and Los Angeles, Oakland can look forward to 15 straight games against teams currently sporting losing records to close out the season. That includes three games at home against the lowly Kansas City Royals and a crucial four-game set in Seattle to close out the regular-season.

Sean Manaea’s pitch distribution and velocity during his successful return against the Yankees. Manaea threw his fastball more often that usual, and the velo was very solid there before tapering off toward the end. (Baseball Savant) pic.twitter.com/3S7k9d12sa

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 1, 2019

The A’s also enter the final four weeks of the season largely free from injury. The club received a boost with the return of pitcher Sean Manaea this past weekend. Their prospective ace heading into the year, Manaea has been sidelined all season following shoulder surgery.

The club also expects to have outfielder Ramon Laureano back this week after missing over a month with a leg injury. However, Oakland will likely need a little help if they are to return to the postseason for the fifth time in eight years.

Eight-Game Stretch Key to Rays’ Postseason Hopes

The Rays have continued to take advantage of their opportunities to move up the AL Wild Card standings. Going into Tuesday’s double-header with Baltimore, Tampa Bay was on a five-game win streak including a three-game sweep of the Indians over the weekend, boosting the club to a strong -300 in the MLB playoff odds.

#Rays sweep #Indians. They win again, 8-2, and now lead the Tribe by 1/2 game in the AL Wild Card race. Still 24 games left in the regular season, but what a huge weekend for Tampa Bay.

The record is 80-58. pic.twitter.com/0nObVzgkEM

— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) September 1, 2019

The club also plays seven of their final 21 games against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays, whom they have topped in 10 of 15 meetings dating back to 2018.

However, the Rays still must contend with a brutal eight-game stretch later this month which features two games each against the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, and a four-game set with the Boston Red Sox, who continue to lurk as +600 underdogs to see action in October.

Injuries, Series with Twins Present Challenges for Indians

That leaves the Indians, who find themselves teetering between a run at a fourth straight AL Central title and missing the playoffs. Despite sporting a narrow half-game lead over Oakland in the AL Wild Card race, and sitting 5.5 games back of Minnesota in the AL Central standings, the Indians sport the strongest odds of reaching the postseason of any AL Wild Card contender, at a short -350.

Heading into September, Cleveland holds a half-game lead over Tampa Bay and Oakland for the first wild card !

Indians remaining Schedule :

@ Rays x1
vs White Sox x4
@ Twins x3
@ Angels x3
vs Twins x3
vs Tigers x3
vs Phillies x3
@ White Sox x3
@ Nationals x3

— Mike (@MIKE_BROWNS_UK) September 1, 2019

However, the Tribe have been beset by inconsistency and untimely injuries over the past month, and will likely see their fortunes hinge on six crucial dates with the first-place Twins. The club has gone 10-11 in 21 contests ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with the Chicago White Sox, and will be without slugger Jose Ramirez for the remainder of the schedule after he suffered a hand injury.

The good news for the Indians is their recent run of success against Minnesota, posting wins in four of five meetings after dropping five of their first eight this season.

But with the race remaining so tight, and Oakland looking forward to a steady diet of opponents playing out the string, plenty of value exists in their lengthy +210 odds of clinching a postseason berth this season.

Pick: Oakland A’s to make the MLB postseason (+210)