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Yankees Seek Series Win, But Athletics Poised to Disrupt Schmidt's Groove
So, today’s matchup between the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics is shaping up to be far more intriguing than you might expect at first glance. The Yankees are looking to secure a series win at home, but there's a twist here—Clarke Schmidt, the man on the mound for New York, may be on thinner ice than the box score would have you believe.
On the surface, Schmidt's recent form has been stellar. We’re talking about 20+ straight innings without giving up a run. That sounds dominant, right? But here’s the thing—beneath that shiny ERA of 2.84, the advanced numbers suggest he’s been walking a tightrope. His xFIP sits at 4.22, which means he's been getting a bit lucky, and his control is slipping. A 2.50 K/BB ratio and over three walks per nine innings? Not exactly what you want going up against an Oakland team that’s actually been pretty disciplined at the plate.
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The Athletics come into this game with a walk rate just shy of 10%, and they’re not a team that strikes out all that much—only around 21%. That means they’re patient, they’re selective, and they might just be the type of lineup to make Schmidt work a little harder for those outs. And when you consider the weather—hot and humid in the Bronx today—it could be the perfect storm to wear him down early.
If you’re looking at prop bets or just curious about strategy, this might be a spot to fade Schmidt a little. His outs line is set at 17.5, and with the way Oakland grinds out at-bats, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him exit before the sixth inning wraps.
Then there’s the offensive firepower. Aaron Judge, as usual, is a major threat—especially against JP Sears, who’s giving up home runs at an alarming rate. Judge already has two bombs off Sears in just eight at-bats. But don’t overlook Brent Rooker from the A’s side. He’s got pop, and he’s taken Schmidt deep before. With the wind blowing out and the sticky summer air helping carry the ball, this could be a slugfest waiting to erupt.
So, while the Yankees are favored—and rightfully so—you can’t count the Athletics out. They’ve been quietly cashing on first five inning overs and are well positioned to make Schmidt’s day more stressful than expected. This one has all the ingredients of a tightly contested battle with some sneaky value on the underdog side.
Whether you’re tuning in for the drama, betting the lines, or just love the rhythm of a good MLB afternoon matchup, this A’s vs Yankees game is not one to overlook. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m. ET—get ready.
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