#Padres vs. Athletics prediction: Ride Chris Paddack, San Diego

It’s the first Saturday in September … so it must be Derby day in Kentucky. No fans, no spring mint leaves, no drunk patrons to sing “My Old Kentucky Home.”

The Stitch pick: Thousand Words.

Two of the top teams square off in Oakland this weekend. The Padres are running a clear second to the Dodgers in the NL West. The Athletics are sitting atop the AL West after winning 13 of 17 at home prior to last night’s series opener. Chris Paddack (3-3, ERA 4.43) goes for San Diego. Looked as though the sophomore jinx was getting the best of Chris but we bet him last week and he won, shutting down the Rockies for six innings. A’s Sean Manaea (2-2, ERA 5.64) has settled down as well. He’s won his last pair, allowing two runs over 10¹/₃ innings to the D’backs and Rangers. Both pitchers will face tougher lineups on Saturday. Play 20 units on the Padres.

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Lukewarm Stitches backed the red-hot Phillies and they beat the Mets 5-3. Jake Arrieta allowed two runs over seven strong to get the W and slice our deficit to -418 citations.