Oakland is doing well this season. But the A's are just 24-22 at home. They are not some super team and I'm not buying journeyman Trevor Cahill as a favorite against Madison Bumgarner.
Bumgarner just pitched against the A's right before All-Star break on July 13 and won, 7-1. He gave up one run on three hits in six innings. The odds are strong Bumgarner is going to do his job.
Not so with Cahill, who is pitching for his sixth team in the last five years. The A's are 1-4 in Cahill's last five starts. Cahill hasn't been sharp giving up seven earned runs on a combined 15 hits/walks during his last two starts spanning just 8 1 /3 innings. He has close to a 4.00 lifetime ERA in 18 outings against the Giants, including 15 starts.
The Giants are expected to have Brandon Belt back for this game after Belt missed Friday's game to be with his wife, who was giving birth. Belt is the Giants' top power hitter leading them in homers and RBI's.