Grant Balfour News

Before the season began, I predicted the Oakland Athletics would win 92 games and just miss the playoffs.

Left-hander Tommy Milone goes for a fourth straight unbeaten start on Monday night when the Oakland Athletics visit Miller Park for the opener of a three-game interleague series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Teams in need of a shortstop in 2014 - the A's, Cardinals, Mariners, Pirates, Tigers, Twins and Yankees are my early picks - will have slim pickings on the free-agent market next offseason with Stephen Drew and Jhonny Peralta the best of the bunch.

Young, who grew up in Houston, is hitting just .189 this season. But he's a career .418 hitter at Minute Maid Park with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in 19 games in his hometown.