BOBBY MAXWELL
2 OAKLAND ATHLETICS +105
Tough to go against a pitcher that hasn't lost a game this season, so let's go ahead and play the A's and back Rich Harden (5-0, 2.25 ERA) today. Oakland won the first two games of this series before dropping a 6-1 decision Saturday. Even with the loss, the A's have won seven of the last nine against the White Sox and four of the last six in Chicago. Take this series back a few years and you'll see the A's own a 44-19 advantage inthe last 63 games. The White Sox have struggled against the A.L. West, going just 9-20 against the division and they are 3-9 as an underdog. Meanwhile the A's are on rolls of 13-6 as a favorite, 9-4 against left-handers and 5-1 against the A.L. Central. Oakland is 9-3 in Harden's 12 starts this season and he's 2-0 on the road. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in nine straight starts and he's 3-2 with a 2.92 ERA in six starts against the White Sox. John Danks (5-4, 2.50) goes for Chicago and they are just 1-5 in his last six starts against the A.L. West and 4-10 when he faces a team with a winning record. Oakland is 40-15 in Harden's last 55 starts and 42-13 when he's a favorite. We like the chances of Harden pulling this one off. Take the A's today.