So, the reason I’ve had a chip on my shoulder during this whole ordeal — that, hopefully, prevents John Fisher from ever being seen in public again — is because a very small and ugly man has hurt some very dear friends of mine. Baseball teams might be considered a public good by the public, but we also understand that that’s a wish upon a star.
The truth that’s uglier than John Fisher is that baseball teams are a moneymaking enterprise for the people who own them. Literally nothing more than that. And however, they choose to shake the money loose is their prerogative. If it takes hurting individuals and communities and the reputation of a sport, so be it. Everybody has signed up to understanding the bottomless pursuit of money. The sequel to Moneyball will be about extracting value until something that was once loved is simply a husk.
As the Giants try and flail at the third Wild Card, it’s important to remember that the human element exists beyond keeping customers interested in and paying money to see a team for all six months of the season. Healthy or not, people form connections to these players and the team. Baseball being on practically every day for half the calendar year is like a background companion through the journey of life. For a lot of A’s fans, that journey was ended because their companion was murdered.
Larry Baer & co. helped dispose of the body, of course, and have been more than happy to do it. Losing the Oakland A’s to Sacramento and then Las Vegas is sadder yet. Just because of the heat indexes, it’s like John Fisher is burning ants with a magnifying glass — for fun! So, if everybody’s a little on edge this weekend, and I wouldn’t blame them. I’m sure the online Giants fans will be far crueler to the A’s fans than they would be in person (such is internet), but hearing a packed stadium for the next two days chant and demand the immediate peril of the A’s owner will be a bonding experience for all in attendance, and we know there will be a solid mix of both fanbases.
As for the series itself, well, the A’s aren’t nearly as bad as last season. They’re a tiny bit better than average offensively (101 wRC+ - 12th in MLB), and their pitching has been about as valuable (8.2 fWAR) as the Giants’ (7.8). The A’s have the best record in the American League in the second half (15-9) and are 18-17 in interleague play. Oakland A's (52-70) welcome the San Francisco Giants (62-62) to Oakland Coliseum for the 1st of their 2-game series. First pitch is set for 7:07 p.m. ET. Let's analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Giants vs. A's odds
Season series: Tied 1-1
The A's beat the New York Mets in 2 of 3 in their last series, winning the series finale 7-6 Thursday. They closed as an underdog of +160 or longer in each. Oakland has won 4 of its last 5 and beat the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox in 2 of 3 in both of its series prior. It is 65-57 against the spread (ATS) this season. The A's are 29-30 at home.
The Giants, who are 26-35 on the road, lost 3 of 4 to the Atlanta Braves at home in their last series. They did come out on top in the final game 6-0. Despite losing 4 of their last 5 games, the Giants have won 6 of their last 11. They are 58-65 ATS on the season.
Giants at A's projected starters
RHP Hayden Birdsong vs. RHP Osvaldo Bido
Birdsong (3-2, 5.40 ERA) makes his 9th start. He has a 1.39 WHIP, 4.7 BB/9 and 10.8 K/9 through 36 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 4 1/3 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K in a 5-4 home loss to the Detroit Tigers Sunday
- 2024 away stats: 2-1, 6.62 ERA (17 2/3 IP, 13 ER), 1.42 WHIP, 11.7 K/9 in 4 starts
- Has yet to face A's
Bido (3-3, 3.92 ERA) makes his 6th start and 12th appearance. He has a 1.26 WHIP, 4.4 BB/9 and 9.0 K/9 through 39 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K in a 1-0 road win over the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday
- 2024 home stats: 1-2, 4.15 ERA (21 2/3 IP, 10 ER), 1.39 WHIP, 10.0 K/9 in 7 appearances (3 starts)
- Career vs. Giants: 0-0, 10.13 ERA (2 2/3 IP, 3 ER), 2.25 WHIP, 10.1 K/9 in 1 start
Giants at A's odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:40 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Giants -124 (bet $124 to win $100) | A's +106 (bet $100 to win $106)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Giants -1.5 (+136) | A's +1.5 (-162)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Giants at A's picks and predictions
Prediction
A's 5, Giants 4
Moneyline
BET A'S (+106).
Oakland has performed well in Bido's last 2 starts. Despite going 1-1, it has allowed a total of 3 runs. That should bode well for it as it has picked up its batting as of late, scoring at least 7 runs in 3 of its last 4 games. The A's have won 4 of their last 5, all of which were on the road. The Giants are on the flip side of that and have struggled lately. They have lost Birdsong's last 2 starts and have scored 3 or fewer in 3 of their last 4 games. Couple those trends and back the home side. Take A'S (+106).
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
The A's are a better value on the MoneyLine than as a far more expensive run-line underdog. The Giants, given Birdsong's performances over the last few games, aren't worth a play as a run-line favorite.
Over/Under
BET OVER 8 (-105).
The Giants have allowed a whopping 17 runs in the last 3 games and have gone Over in 2 of their last 5. They are 64-56-3 O/U on the season, so they have trended Over for most of the year. San Francisco has gone Over in Birdsong's last 2 starts as well.
The A's, who have been hot offensively, have gone Over in 4 straight games, scoring 25 runs in their last 4 and allowing 23 in those games. Considering those trends, back OVER 8 (-105).
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