TWINS/ATHLETICS Under 8 +100 - The first game of this series didn?t exactly go according to plan, but I am coming back with the Under again today. Don?t forget that all 5 Oakland runs yesterday were given away by a jittery Minnesota defense in the first 2 innings, although officially 1 of the runs was earned. The Twins did an outstanding job of composing themselves though, so look for a tighter defensive effort throughout today. The Under is still 6-3 in the last 9 head-to-head meetings between these teams. Mulder closed the season strong for Oakland, allowing a total of 3 runs in his last 3 starts in 22 innings. He had a 3.22 ERA and an excellent WHIP of 1.06 here at home this year, allowing an OBA of .220. The last time Mulder faced the Twins, he held them scoreless over 8 innings on 7 hits with 10 strikeouts. Don?t be fooled by Joe Mays? 4-8 record and 5.38 ERA. He missed much of this season due to injury, but he has some of the best stuff on the Twins? staff, which was evident during last year?s 17-win season. He closed out the year in fine fashion, allowing 3 earned runs or less in 4 of his last 5 starts, so he may be peaking at just the right time. Most encouraging was his last effort against the A?s, when he allowed just 1 earned run and 5 hits in 7.1 innings in a tough-luck 2-0 loss.
