Oakland Athletics vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Matchup

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing host to the Oakland Athletics at PNC Park. This interleague matchup will begin at 7:05 p.m. ET and fans hoping to watch it can tune in to NBC Sports – California.

Oakland Athletics at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds

Oddsmakers have listed Pittsburgh (-130) as the favorite over Oakland (+120). The total stands at eight runs and bettors can wager on the over for +105 and the under for -125. Gamblers can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds coming in at Athletics +1.5 runs (-175) and Pirates -1.5 runs (+155).

The Athletics are 14-19 SU and have gone 13-20 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 7.3 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in this young season and 9.4 units ATS. Oakland’s failed to cover the spread in each of its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 14-14 SU and 16-12 ATS. They’ve gained 1.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 2.3 units ATS. Pittsburgh has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven.

Pirates games have an over/under record of 12-16 so far in 2019. The Athletics have an over/under record of 18-14-1.

Brett Anderson will get the nod for the Athletics. The left-handed Anderson is 3-2 with a 4.35 ERA and 18 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Pirates this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.

The Pirates are countering with Joe Musgrove (1-2, 1.54 ERA). Musgrove has 31 strikeouts and seven walks, along with a 0.89 WHIP. Musgrove did not record a start against the Athletics in 2018.

Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has yielded 4.1 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starters have a 3.19 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.03 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 11.2 K/9.

Pittsburgh’s offense is putting up 3.5 runs per contest, including 3.1 per game over its last 10 games and 4.4 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .246/.292/.388 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.

Outfielder Melky Cabrera and first baseman Josh Bell have led the way for the Pirates’ batters so far. Cabrera is hitting .341/.370/.500 with 30 hits, eight RBIs and nine runs scored, while Bell is batting .284 with six homers, 21 RBIs and 17 runs.

In the visiting dugout, Oakland’s pitchers have allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 4.97 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 6.84 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.33, along with a WHIP of 1.34 and a K-per-9 of 9.39.

Athletics hitters have slashed .237/.315/.402 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (0-5 SU).

Shortstop Marcus Semien and third baseman Matt Chapman have led Oakland’s offense. Semien is hitting .302/.378/.460 with four home runs, 16 RBIs and 21 runs scored, while Chapman (.289/.385/.570) is up to eight homers, 20 RBIs and 16 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 gone under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Pirates have lost 0.1 units and are 5-4 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s hit in five of those games, compared to four that’ve gone under.

Athletics vs. Pirates Free Prediction

Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER

Betting Notes

  • The over has cashed in three of Oakland’s last seven contests.
  • The Athletics have hit six home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit eight over their last 10.
  • The Athletics have an OPS of .717 this season and an OPS of .686 against right-handed pitchers. The Pirates’ OPS sits at .666 overall and .691 versus righties.
  • Pittsburgh has recorded 19.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 22.4 over its last five.