MLB’s schedule-makers were quite kind to the Oakland Athletics this week. How so? The A’s had a three-game series on the North Side of Chicago against the Cubs, got Thursday off to enjoy the Windy City and then open a three-game set on the South Side against the White Sox. No flight! Oakland will be favored on the MLB Lines in the lone matinee of Friday.
How to Bet Athletics vs White Sox MLB Odds & Game Info
- When: Friday, 3:10 PM ET
- Where: Guaranteed Rate Field
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Mike Fiers/Ross Detwiler
- TV: MLB Network
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: WGN
- MLB Odds: Oakland Athletics -185 (Total 10.5)
Weather Forecast
- Sunny: 27°C/80°F
- Humidity: 40%
- Precipitation: 0%
- Cloud Cover: 4%
- Wind: 8 mph NNE
- Stadium Type: Open
Why Bet on Oakland?
The A’s lost two of three at the Cubs to open this week, getting crushed 10-1 on Wednesday. Lou Trivino gave up two runs while getting just one out Wednesday against the Cubs. Trivino was one of the AL’s most valuable relievers as a rookie last year and he kept it going over the first quarter of this season, but he’s allowed 31 runs — 26 earned — in 33 innings over his last 35 appearances.
Slumping third baseman Matt Chapman went 0-for-3 before leaving Wednesday’s rout for a pinch-hitter. Chapman is 2-for-47 in his last 13 games. Both of those hits were homers, but his batting average has dropped from .278 to .252 during the stretch. Oakland featured three players with 20-plus homers this season in Chapman, Matt Olson, and Ramon Laureano. When Marcus Semien hits one more, the A’s will be one of four teams in the majors with four guys of at least 20-plus homers, joining the Cubs, Twins, and Padres.
Mike Fiers on the mound for Oakland. Fiers (10-3) struck out four and allowed one run on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings, earning the win against the Cardinals on Saturday. Fiers came one out away from hurling his 14th quality start in a row. He tossed 64 of his 94 pitches for strikes, but he exited after allowing a two-out RBI single to Paul DeJong in the sixth inning, which would be the only run on his ledger.
This is the 34-year-old’s third 10-win season. Fiers is rolling, having not allowed more than three runs in any start in the last three months. Fiers owns a 3.46 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 91 strikeouts in 140.1 innings this season. Beginning with a game at Toronto on April 26, the A’s right-hander has lowered his ERA in 16 of his past 17 starts. Fiers gave up six runs in each of three consecutive starts in April. That left his ERA heading into that game at Toronto at 8.28. “I was rushing to get ready and I didn’t really get to the right feel” physically and mentally, Fiers said.
“It’s just turned into a momentum thing where every time he goes out there, he gives us a good outing,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.11
- Hits: 8.41
- Walks: 3.43
- Strike Outs: 7.95
- Runs: 4.32
- Hits: 8.38
- Walks: 3.16
- Strike Outs: 7.75
Why Bet on Chicago?
The Pale Hose have won four of five and took three of four at horrible Detroit early this week. Jose Abreu had a big series and had three hits in the finale Wednesday. The three-time All-Star has annihilated Detroit all year, batting .426 with three homers and 16 RBI over 53 at-bats against his division rival. Among AL hitters, only Mike Trout (89), Rafael Devers (87) and Xander Bogaerts (85) have plated more runs than Abreu (83) this season.
Shortstop Tim Anderson reached base five times as part of a four-hit explosion Wednesday. He has picked up the pace recently, batting.438 (14-for-32) over a seven-game hitting streak. He now ranks second in the AL in batting average (.323) and 11th in steals with 15.
It’s journeyman Ross Detwiler (1-2) for Chicago. Detwiler pitched well in a losing effort against the Phillies last Saturday night, racking up six strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings of two-run baseball. Detwiler scattered just three hits and one walk on the evening. All the scoring that was done against him came on two mighty swings in the fourth inning, where Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins smacked back-to-back home runs. “I really made two bad pitches all night,” Detwiler said. “But I paid for them both.”
Detwiler induced a season-high 10 swings and misses against the Phillies, including five with his changeup. He had forced only four whiffs using his changeup all season prior to Saturday. Detwiler hadn’t started a game since July 18. That outing lasted just 2 1/3 innings. He hadn’t thrown more than 70 pitches in exactly one month — and he hadn’t struck out more than three batters in any of his previous seven appearances.
Even with that strong outing, Detwiler still sports a troublesome 5.72 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 28 1/3 innings on the season. It remains to be seen whether the veteran left-hander will get another start beyond Friday’s outing, though that could depend on how he fares.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 4.17
- Hits: 8.65
- Walks: 2.38
- Strike Outs: 9.62
- Runs: 5.21
- Hits: 8.99
- Walks: 3.56
- Strike Outs: 7.94
Athletics vs White Sox MLB Betting Trends
- Over is 11-2 in the last 13 meetings
- Athletics are 4-1 in Fiers’ last 5 road starts
- White Sox are 0-7 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter
- Athletics are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games on the road
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland’s last 6 games against an opponent in the American League
- White Sox are 1-8 SU in their last 9 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 11 of Chi White Sox’s last 13 games against Oakland
Expert Final Score Prediction for Athletics vs White Sox
Oakland Athletics 6 – Chicago White Sox 3
