Justin Verlander knows how to beat the A's in the playoffs, which is why he is certain Oakland's trade with the Cubs for starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hamel was made with a potential October rematch in mind.

"I found it very interesting," Verlander told reporters Saturday, according to MLB.com. "Really, when I saw that trade, I thought that they made that trade for us. No doubt about it in my mind."