Angels Look to Bury Freefall A's in Oakland Tuesday

The Athletics are circling the drain with seven straight losses, getting boat-raced 6.4 to 2.6 per game over their last five. Now they're trotting out Brady Basso, whose 4.50 ERA and pedestrian 6.30 K/9 scream "batting practice" against a motivated Angels squad that's been the far superior club down the stretch. Oakland's team ERA sits at a ghastly 5.44—over a full run worse than the Halos—and their offense has gone MIA when it matters most.

Yusei Kikuchi isn't exactly vintage Nolan Ryan with his 5.02 ERA, but he strikes out batters at a 9.10 clip and gets outs when he needs them. That's a massive edge over Basso, who'll be lucky to escape the fifth inning with the game intact. The Angels took the only 2026 meeting between these clubs 4-1 back in June, and nothing about Oakland's current death spiral suggests they've figured anything out since.

DarkHorse is backing the Angels at -110 with moderate confidence, and it's hard to argue. You're getting a better starter, a better bullpen, and a team that isn't actively trying to lose. Oakland's in tank mode whether they admit it or not. Lay the short price and cash the ticket before the A's remember how to score runs.