7* Run Line Oakland (8:10 ET): First off, please note that this is a run line play only where I’m backing the A’s +1.5. I know that Oakland has played some hideous baseball in June (3-16!) and was just swept at home by Seattle. But Kansas City should never be this high of a ML favorite, even if they did just take two of three from the A’s last week. The Royals being in this price range opens up a play on the RL, which looks great to me as not only are the A’s a shocking 4-0 this season on the road when the ML is +125 to -125, but they’ve got (by far) the better starting pitcher going Friday. KC has also lost three of the four games where they’ve been ML favorites of -125 to -175 this year. Take the +1.5 to be safe.

It will be Cole Irvin on the mound here for the visitors. While an 0-7 TSR over his L7 starts is certainly concerning, be aware that Irvin’s ERA over that stretch is actually 2.83! Twice this month, the A’s have lost by a single run with Irvin on the mound. We’d take that result here. Irvin pitched very well against the Royals last weekend, holding them to one run and three hits over 6 ⅓ innings. Unfortunately, he got no support in a 2-0 final. Still, it seems we can count on Irvin holding up “his end of the bargain” as he’s now allowed 2 ER or less in eight of his previous nine outings.

Zack Greinke is the starter tonight for the Royals. This will be his first time back on the mound in nearly a month. He’s 0-4 in 10 starts this year, so it’s not been a good season, especially when you look at his 5.05 ERA and 1.354 WHIP. Consider that Irvin has allowed a total of 17 runs in his L9 starts while Greinke has allowed 12 in just the last two. Oakland should have won yesterday’s game as Frankie Montas took a no-hitter into the eighth. Seattle ended up scoring both of its runs on wild pitches (brutal!). Kansas City had just two hits in its last game as it was shutout for the 10th time this season and second time in the last four games. 7* Run Line Oakland (+1.5)