I'm doing something I haven't done in six years - back Homer Bailey. Actually, it's not nearly Bailey but the A's I want going for me in this opener of a three-game series being played in Oakland.
The Yankees are traveling east to west. They do not have a good history in Oakland where they have lost six of the last seven times. A lot of the power hitting AL East teams have problems dealing not only with the three-hour time change but the spacious dimensions of Oakland Coliseum.
The A's have won 67 percent of their last 107 home games. They are 13-3 following an off day and 20-7 the past 27 times at home when going against a righty starter. New York is throwing righthanded Domingo German.
German leads the majors in wins with 16. He also has nearly a 4.00 ERA and is due for regression.
The Yankees are not a team I like to go against. Do note, though, their impressive 83-43 record is bolstered by going 17-2 against the Orioles.
Bailey always is live to come up with a clunker. But he is a good fit when pitching in Oakland where not all of his mistakes are costly because of the ballpark configuration. Bailey has had five good performances during his past seven starts and is coming off a two-hit, seven inning shut out of the Giants this past Thursday with a 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. That game was at Oracle Park, another pitcher's park.
Bailey has tamed the Yankees before beating them 6-1 at Yankee Stadium in April.