Athletics limp into Cincinnati looking for life support as losing streak hits seven

The Athletics are circling the drain, and the Reds are more than happy to keep flushing. Oakland stumbles into Great American Ball Park riding a soul-crushing seven-game skid, having dropped nine of their last ten while averaging a pathetic 2.6 runs per game over their last five. They just lost 3-2 to these same Reds last night, and nothing suggests Thursday will be any kinder.

Cincinnati sends Andrew Abbott to the hill against Mason Barnett, and that's nearly a full run of ERA separation (3.91 vs 4.85) favoring the home side. Abbott isn't lighting up radar guns or racking up strikeouts at an elite clip, but he doesn't need to be vintage Koufax against this Oakland lineup. The A's are hitting .244 as a team and have been absolutely lost on the road at 2-6.

The Reds, meanwhile, have won three straight and seven of ten, including a 2-0 season sweep of Oakland so far. They're 6-3 at home and riding momentum. Yes, they're playing back-to-back, but fatigue matters a hell of a lot less when you're facing a team that can't score.

DarkHorse likes Reds -154 despite the juice creeping toward uncomfortable territory. The pitching edge, Oakland's offensive black hole, and Cincinnati's home cooking make this worth the price. Fade the A's freefall.