The Oakland Athletics will be taking on a cross-country foe in the Pittsburgh Pirates in a Saturday night game. This interleague matchup is going to be televised nationally on Fox Sports One and the game gets underway 7:05 p.m. ET.
Oakland Athletics at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
For anyone who wants to play the moneyline, each team is currently receiving identical odds (-105) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this night game at 8 runs (+105 for the over and -125 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds coming in at Athletics -1.5 runs (+140) and Pirates +1.5 runs (-160).
The Pirates are 14-15 straight up (SU) and 16-12 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 1.1 units for moneyline bettors and 2.3 units ATS. Pittsburgh has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Athletics have gone 15-19 SU this year and are 13-20 against the spread. Overall, the club has lost 7.3 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 9.4 units ATS. Oakland has failed to cover the spread in each of its last seven games and the under has cashed in three of those seven.
Pirates games have an over/under record of 12-16 so far in 2019. Oakland has an over/under record of 18-14-1.
Chris Bassitt will get the start for the visiting Athletics. The right-handed Bassitt is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 16 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Pirates this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Pirates are turning to Trevor Williams (1-1, 3.38 ERA). Williams has 27 strikeouts and seven walks, along with a 1.04 WHIP. Williams did not register a start against the Athletics in 2018.
As a unit, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has given up 4.4 runs per game overall in 2019. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.42, a WHIP of 1.13 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.9. The bullpen has a 4.42 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 11.0 K/9.
The Pittsburgh offense has produced 3.4 runs per outing, including 3.0 per game over its last 10 games and 4.2 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .234/.288/.353 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Pirates’ batters have been led by outfielder Melky Cabrera and first baseman Josh Bell. Cabrera is slashing .344/.379/.500 with 31 hits, eight RBIs and nine runs scored, and Bell’s line sits at .283/.361/.575 with six homers, 22 RBIs and 17 runs.
In the other dugout, Oakland’s pitchers have allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starters own a 4.85 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 6.81 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.23, along with a K-per-9 of 9.45.
Athletics hitters have slashed .242/.321/.408 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game this year, including 5.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman have led Oakland’s offense. Semien is slashing .298/.376/.450 with four home runs, 18 RBIs and 21 runs scored. Chapman is slashing .300/.390/.600 with nine homers, 22 RBIs and 18 runs scored.
The Athletics have lost 11.4 units and are 7-14 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 12 of those games, as opposed to eight that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the Pirates have netted 1.1 units and are 11-8 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in seven of those games, compared to 12 that went under the total.
Athletics vs. Pirates Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Oakland has recorded 13 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Pittsburgh has 14 XBH over its last five.
- The Athletics have a team OPS of .729 this season and an OPS of .702 against right-handed pitchers. The Pirates’ OPS stands at .658 overall and .688 versus righties.
- Pittsburgh has recorded 19.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 21.4 over its last five.
- The Athletics have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit seven over their last 10.
