MLB Daily Picks – FREE pick for July 29th is Oakland

MLB Daily Picks FREE pick of the day is Oakland:

Fixture: Toronto @ Oakland
Time/Date: 10:05 PM ET, July 29, 2013
Pick: Oakland
Odds: -157 (1.64 in decimal odds) @ Pinnacle

This will be the first game of 3 game series played in Oakland and the first time this two teams meet this season.

Oakland leads American League West with 62-43 record and they are the best home team in American League with 33 victories in 49 home games. Oakland is on 3 game winning streak. Toronto is last in American League East with 48-56 record. They are 20-28 on the road.

In the period from from July 8-20 Oakland went 4-4 averaging just 1.6 runs per game, but since then they are 6-2 averaging 5.0 runs per game.

Oakland's defense has allowed 100 runs less than Toronto's. Oakland's pitching staff ranks 6th in MLB (1st in American League) with 3.60 team ERA, while Toronto's pitchers are 29th with 4.35 team ERA.

A.J. Griffin will be starting for Oakland tonight. He is 9-7, 3.84 ERA after 21 starts in 2013. Griffin has recorded 3 wins in his last 4 outings allowing 9 earned runs while striking out 19 in 24.1 innings of work combined. Griffin has 2 career starts against Toronto, going 1-0 while tossing 7.2 scoreless innings. Oakland is 5-0 in Griffin's last 5 starts as a favorite, 11-2 in Griffin's last 13 starts as a home favorite, 15-3 in Griffins last 18 home starts and 5-1 in Griffin's last 6 starts.

Toronto is sending out Esmil Rogers, who is 3-4, 3.74 ERA in 10 starts and 23 relief appearances this season. He is 0-2 in his last 6 starts allowing 18 earned runs on 45 hits and 10 walks in 35.2 innings of work combined.

Toronto is 2-8 in their last 10 games as an underdog and 1-9 in their last 10 games following a win.

Oakland is 6-1 in their last 7 vs. American League East teams and 6-1 in their last 7 Monday games. They've won 23 of their last 29 home games and I expect them to win tonight,