I don't get the respect for the Yankees with this line. Oakland is 12-2 this month, winners of six straight. The A's, 43-27, haven't started a season this hot in 31 years. 

The Yankees are one game above .500 at home. They have lost seven of the past 10 at Yankee Stadium. The '27 Yankees they are not and Jameson Taillon - who goes today-  is their worst starter. Taillon is 1-4 with a 5.74 ERA. That ERA climbs to 6.10 going back to Taillon's last seven starts. 

Oakland is averaging 7.8 runs during its past five games. Ramon Laureano, one of the more underrated all-around outfielders, is back in the A's lineup after being out 17 games due to a hip injury. 

James Kaprielian will be making his seventh big league start. This looks like a break-through year for Kaprielian, who is 3-1 with a 2.51 ERA. He's given up two runs or fewer in five of his seven starts. 

Just because the Yankees are the Yankees doesn't automatically mean they should be favored.