MLB Preview – Oakland Athletics at New York Yankees

Two teams battling to stay in the playoff race wrap up their series on Sunday afternoon as the New York Yankees host the Oakland Athletics. Neither team has given up hopes of making the playoffs although the Athletics are definitely looking to the future.

They have traded starting pitchers Rich Harden and Joe Blanton in recent weeks. One pitcher they got in return, Sean Gallagher, was going to make his second start for A's on Sunday but took the mound on Saturday due to a pitching change.

Gallagher pitched well in his first start for Oakland, going seven innings, allowing just two runs and two hits against the Angels. Saturday’s MLB betting start will be the first in his career against the Yankees. So instead of Gallagher, the A's will be sending all star Justin Duchscherer to the mound on Sunday against the Yankees.

Andy Pettitte gets the start for New York on Sunday. He lost his seventh game of the season in his last start against Toronto. He is 10-7 this season with a 4.03 ERA. He has pitched well in his career against Oakland as he has a 9-5 record with a 3.42 ERA.

Check out the current MLB odds on Oakland vs. New York for Sunday's game at 1:05 pm EST on TBS. Sources at SBGGlobal say that early money will be on the Yankees who are expected to be a slight favorite but with Duchscherer pitching for the A's, the underdog money line will probably be the best bet.

The Yankees are still in the hunt for the playoffs but manager Joe Girardi has said that he believes his team is also still in the American League East Division race. "I think strictly about division," Girardi said. He also knows that the Yankees must play more consistent baseball if they are to make any kind of run.

"It's just consistency throughout the games," Girardi said, "I think it's important that offensively, you're consistent; defensively, you're consistent; your pitching; bullpen -- the whole works. Everything has to be consistent. And you have to play solid baseball on a daily basis. You're not going to win every day, but if you get the consistency, you're going to win the series."

The A’s are also still in the race, even though most people didn’t think they would be. "I don't think anybody thought we'd be any good, but we are," said right-hander Justin Duchscherer. "And I'm sure people are thinking we'll start fading in the second half, especially with all the injuries. But that's great, as far as I'm concerned. Let everyone say what they want. We're fine without all the attention.”

The A’s probably don’t have enough to make the playoffs but they can compete and stay in ball games. "There's a personality to this team that's hard to define, but it sure is fun to be a part of," manager Bob Geren said, "I'm proud of everything they've done, and I'm sure I'll be saying the same thing next winter -- no matter how the second half plays out."