The A's offense has leveled up over the last three games, which for them still means averaging less than six runs in those wins. They've been able to push their per-game run total up over three, but this is still an offense I'm looking to fade at home against any pitcher with a pulse. Priester bounced back from an awful season debut with six shutout innings in San Francisco, getting back in line with his quality Triple-A beginning to the year. His trouble comes against lefties, but A's lefties are hitting just .210/.294/.341 vs. righties this year, so I'm not worried.

Oakland has impressed with a 14-17 overall record, and wins in five of their last six games. Today, on the mound for the Oakland A’s is Ross Stripling who is winless on the season with an 0-5 record. Expect his misfortune to continue as the Pittsburgh Pirates are overdue to break out of a prolonged team slump at the plate. Grab the Pirates to end the As three game winning streak.

Why the Pirates are favored, however slight, in this matinee is a mystery. Pittsburgh has lost 12 of 15 and scored just 28 runs across its last 14 games, enough of a sample size to begin drawing some conclusions...such as the Bucs can't score. Oakland pitching has controlled the Pirates bats the past two nights and expect more of the same on Wednesday, as Ross Stripling has been relatively effective since his lone shaky effort at Texas on April 10. Mark Kotsay's battling bunch won the previous weekend set in Baltimore and about to sweep the Bucs, who can't wait to escape the Bay Area after spending the weekend across the bridge and losing 2 of 3 vs. the Giants. Play A's on Money Line

Pittsburgh weary after a long trip on California and will have one eye on that long plane ride back to PA. Weird start time for them. Running out a starter who has a tendency to get hit hard and who will probably settle into their pen. Stripling has pitched better than his number for the plucky A's, he kept a strong Baltimore lineup very unsettled in his last outing and the Oakland bullpen is far super to Pittsburgh's. I like the home team here