8* UNDER A's/Mets (TOP TOTAL)

These teams have been involved in some higher-scoring "slug-fests" their last few game, but everything finally points to more of a "duel" here in the getaway contest. Oakland had its three-game win streak come to an end in last night's 9-1 loss here, one night after winning the opener by a score of 9-4. Oakland has seen the total go "over" in three straight, but note that the A's have in fact seen the total go "under" the number in eight of their last 12 after playing to three or more straight "overs" in a row. The Mets finally broke their four-game slide with last night's win. Like its counterpart today, New York also enters having seen the total go "over" in three straight. The visitors hand the ball to Mitch Spence (7-8, 4.33 ERA), who has been a workhorse for Oakland all season, and who is off an unfortunate loss vs. the Jays by conceding just two runs with no walks over six innings. Over 106 innings of work he owns a very respectable 86:31 K:BB. He'll be opposed by Jose Quintana (6-8, 4.10), who is off an outing to forget vs. the Mariners, but who remains sharp in all "day" games this year by going 3-3 with a 3.53 ERA. He's also owns a 3.39 ERA at home despite just a 3-4 record. Regardless, we like Quintana to bounce back and for Spence to match his effort, as everything points to a bit of a "duel" here; the play is the "under!"

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