The set-up: The Baltimore Orioles opened the 2017 season 22-10 but by the All Star break, were just 42-46. Baltimore returned from the break and lost all three games at home to the Cubs (falling to 42-49) but have since gone 15-9 to climb back in the wild card race. Currently, the Orioles sit just 1 1/2 games out of the final AL wild card spot, although it's a log-jam with six teams within 1 1/2 games of each other vying for ONE spot! The Orioles will attempt to move closer to a wild-card spot tonight in Oakland for the second contest of their four-game series. Baltimore began the series on Thursday with a 7-2 win and the fact that the A's are 50-65 on the season (owners of the AL's second-worst record), has to give Baltimore confidence.

The pitching matchup: Ubaldo Jimenez (5-7 & 6.31 ERA) gets the start for the Orioles and Paul Blackburn (3-1 & 2.60 ERA) for the A's. Jimenez continues to disappoint for Baltimore, although he did end his four-start win-less streak on Sunday, when he limited Detroit to one run on nine hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.Jimenez owns a 4-1 record and 4.66 ERA in seven career starts against Oakland. Blackburn is a rookie and he notched a victory over San Francisco on July 31 despite being roughed up (5 ERs in 6 1/3 innings) but then pitched much better on Saturday, scattering five hits over 6 2/3 innings of a 5-0 win over the Angels in Los Angeles. It was the rookie's second scoreless outing of the year and the third in which he did not allow an earned run (he's made seven starts in 2017). Blackburn will be facing Baltimore for the first time.

The pick: Jimenez may own a 6.31 ERA and 1.55 WHIP on the season but he has pitched well as of late, allowing a total of four runs in 18 2/3 innings over his last three outings (1.93 ERA). As for Blackburn, the rookie has shown promise pitching for a poor team. Make the Under a 10* play.