MLB Picks: A's vs. Angels

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, for a chance to see the Oakland Athletics Road Show and Revue. The critics all agree it's a performance for the ages with a great cast of characters who just may turn you into believers.

Oakland is certainly turning the Los Angeles Angels into believers this week. The A's escaped with a 6-5 victory on Tuesday to extend their road streak to 11 straight wins, and they'll try to make it an even dozen tonight once again as the underdogs. Ervin Santana takes his turn in the rotation for the Angels who are -125 on the MLB odds board; Oakland counters with rookie AJ Griffin in a game carrying an 8 run total priced an extra 10 cents to the OVER.

Bob Melvin's gang is playing as well as anyone the past month with a 20-5 record since dropping three straight on the road in mid-August. Four of those defeats came at home, three of them a week ago to these Angels who have now fallen 4.5 behind the A's in the division race, and 2.5 out of the wild card chase.

Oakland's real road test begins next week when the A's head out on a 10-game trip that will take them through Detroit, New York and Texas. We can't look ahead to that trip just yet as we focus on tonight's contest in Anaheim.

Griffin has been an unexpected find for the Athletics who are 8-2 in his 10 previous starts, 3-1 in his road assignments. After missing almost all of August with shoulder soreness, Griffin has returned with two straight wins over the Red Sox and Mariners with 12.1 combined innings, 12 Ks and only two runs charged to his ledger.

Santana has been pretty impressive himself the last two times out, and the Angels are riding a 7-1 stretch with the Dominican on the mound. He also has pretty impressive stats against the A's the past few seasons, sporting a 5-3 record with a 3.00 ERA in his last 10 starts vs. Oakland.

Griffin making his first start against the Angels is a nice point to consider, especially with Santana as unpredictable as any starter this season. I'll neither follow the A's nor fade them under these conditions, however, and will instead make a play on the OVER.

My pick: Over 8 (-115)