MLB Baseball
2026-08-20 - Athletics at Kansas City Royals
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Thursday 20th August 2026 - Scheduled 2:20pm EST
7:20pm (British Time)
Preview
Those chasing spots in the Major League post-season are going to have to battle right down to the wire in the regular season, but there are a number of teams just looking to wind through the remainder of the schedule and reassess before the 2027 campaign begins.
Two of those complete a series being hosted by the Kansas City Royals (54-74) as the home team go for the sweep against the Athletics (49-78). Back to back wins for the Royals means the Athletics are left with the fewest wins in the Major League and not just the American League and the road team will be putting a rookie on the mound.
Gage Jump has a 5-7 record and 4.50 ERA in his fifteen starts for the Athletics this year and he likely has three or four more starts to go before the team may choose to rest him up for next season.
After taking the loss in his first start in the Major League, Gage Jump put together a 3-0 record from the next five starts. However, teams will have gotten to see more and more of the rookie and he is now 2-6 with a 6.54 ERA in his last nine starts.
He is facing the Kansas City Royals for the first time and Gage Jump will take some confidence from the fact he has allowed five runs in the last two starts, which have covered over 11 completed Innings. Being backed up by the Athletics batting lineup has meant Jump is 1-0 in those starts and the team will test the mentality by allowing him to work through problems for as long as they can.
The Royals will go with Randy Dobnak who had started a promising career with the Minnesota Twins, but who has suffered with injury and Minor League assignments in recent seasons. He arrived in a trade from the Detroit Tigers in June and Randy Dobnak had appeared in just six Major League games since the start of the 2022 season, but the pitcher may have found a home in Kansas City.
Randy Dobnak has a 2-1 record and 1.73 ERA in eight appearances for the Kansas City Royals and six of those have been in starts. He flashed in a couple of relief appearances and so the Kansas City Royals offered Randy Dobnak an opportunity to start games, which he has gladly taken by putting together a 2-1 record and 1.69 ERA.
In only one of the six starts has Randy Dobnak allowed more than a single run and he is competing, despite not having those tools that teams would be looking for in a starting pitcher.
His current plans are working, although Dobnak will need to finish the season with a flourish if he is going to show the Royals that this is not just a flash in the pan.
Like his opposite number, this will be the first time Randy Dobnak has pitched against this opponent as he looks to help the Royals to a fourht straight win over the Athletics.
Prediction
Both pitchers are trying to impress management ahead of the 2027 season and both have done that in the limited time spent on the mound.
In recent outings, Gage Jump has hit the rookie wall somewhat, although back to back starts have just reignited the pitcher to try and put a strong end of the season together.
Randy Dobnak has been a revelation for the Royals, and the rest of the Major League, and his current form may be good enough to help lay the foundation for a sweep in favour of Kansas City.
The Pick :
Kansas City Royals 4-2 Athletics
