Usually, by the time we reach the midway point of the season, most teams will have faced the other teams in their respective leagues in at least one series. The schedule maker can be weird, though, which is why we sometimes need to wait until the second half of the season before we get too see a pair of teams go head to head. With no previous meetings to go on, it can be tough to gauge how things will go when they finally do clash. Given the among of personnel changes that teams go through from season to season, looking at last year’s meetings can be a mistake.
These are things that we need to consider this weekend when the Chicago White Sox go on the road to face the Oakland A’s for the first time in the 2019 season. The White Sox are still hanging around in the race for Wild Card spots in the American League, but there are a number of teams ahead of them, one of whom is the Oakland A’s. An important series for both teams if they are to maintain their Wild Card challenge.
White Sox vs Athletics MLB Week 15 Lines & Expert Pick
- When: Friday, July 12 at 10:07 PM EST
- Where: Alameda Coliseum, Oakland
- Starting Pitchers: Nova vs. Fiers
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Radio: 95.7 The Game
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- MLB Week 15 Lines: Oakland Athletics -190 (Total 9)
Reds vs Rockies MLB Odds, Game Info & Prediction
Why bet on the Chicago White Sox?
The White Sox closed out the first half of the season with a 42-44 record, which has them 12 ½ games off the pace being set by the Minnesota Twins in the Central Division. That looks like a gap that they cannot bridge, especially with the Cleveland Indians sitting ahead of them and beginning to hit their stride.
The Wild Card is still a possibility for the White Sox, but at 7 games off the pace there, it seems unlikely that they would make any sort of meaningful move at the trade deadline to improve their team. In fact, this might be the series that makes the decision for them. If they can win this weekend and close the gap a little, they might be tempted to do something. It’s a tough ask for a team that’s 17-24 SU and 22-19 ATS away from home. It will be Ivan Nova (4-7, 5.58 ERA) getting the ball for the White Sox.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 4.40
- Hits: 8.67
- Walks: 2.45
- Strike Outs: 9.40
- Runs: 5.22
- Hits: 8.91
- Walks: 3.66
- Strike Outs: 7.86
Why bet on the Oakland A’s?
The Oakland A’s are in a position similar to the White Sox in that it looks improbable that they would get into the playoffs as a division winner. They are sitting second in the West, but they are also 7 ½ games back of the Houston Astros. That’s not an impossible number to overcome, but when you consider just how good the Astros are, it’s tough to imagine them losing that much ground in the second half.
The A’s have been very solid of late, though, winning 7 of their last 10 games, a run that has put them within a game and a half of the final Wild Card spot in the AL. The A’s are 26-20 SU at home, but just 22-24 ATS. They will have Mike Fiers (8-3, 3.87 ERA) on the mound here.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.08
- Hits: 8.45
- Walks: 3.32
- Strike Outs: 7.78
- Runs: 4.36
- Hits: 8.29
- Walks: 3.16
- Strike Outs: 7.89
Diamondbacks vs Cardinals MLB Spread & Prediction
White Sox vs Athletics MLB Week 15 Betting Trends
- Athletics are 98-74 against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons
- White Sox are 42-44 against the money line in all games this season
- Nova is 2-0 when starting against Oakland with an ERA of 3.68 and a WHIP of 1.273
- Fiers is 2-0 when starting against WHITE SOX with an ERA of 2.21 and a WHIP of 1.173
- White Sox are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chi White Sox’s last 5 games against an opponent in the American League
- Athletics are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oakland’s last 5 games
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for White Sox vs Athletics
A big series for both teams in their efforts to stay relevant in the AL playoff race. I really like the Oakland A’s in their own ballpark, especially considering how good they have been of late.
Score: Chicago White Sox 2 – Oakland A’s 5
