Play: Oakland -101 (Lester vs. Shields)
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Reasoning: The Athletics backed into the playoffs, but on Tuesday they will start a guy who has had incredible success lately and against Kansas City and, maybe most importantly, in the postseason. Jon Lester has a 2.00 ERA in five starts this month and he has a 2.35 ERA in 11 starts since arriving from Boston. He is 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA vs. the Royals in 2014 and he is 9-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 13 career starts against them. Lester also was 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA in the World Series last year and is 6-4 with a 2.11 ERA in 13 career playoff appearances (11 starts). James Shields has the nickname "Big Game James," but history tells us he is 2-4 with a 4.98 ERA in six playoff starts. And Josh Reddick, who is 16-for-33 in his last 10 games, is hitting .318 with three homers in 22 at-bats lifetime against Shields. Bullpen-wise K.C. is solid. But Oakland's relievers are better (2.91 ERA vs. 3.30 ERA). And A's closer Sean Doolittle has 89 strikeouts against just eight walks. Oakland hits RH better and scores more against them and the Royals score less vs. LH. At home, Kansas City was just 42-39 this season. And will these teams' postseason experience be a factor? Because the A's are in the playoffs for the third straight season and the Royals are playing their first postseason game in 29 years.
Record: 192-143-8 (57.3%)
Bankroll: +118.30%
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