The Oakland Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles meet Sunday in MLB action from Oriole Park. Here’s a Baltimore Orioles vs Oakland Athletics prediction. This will be the final installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Oakland Athletics Betting Preview
The A’s took on the New York Yankees in their early-week series and ended up with a split after two wins in four games. Oakland would beat the Orioles 3-2 in the Friday opener, then on Saturday the Athletics took a rough shutout loss 7-0. Starter JP Sears gave up all seven earned runs on eight hits and a walk in 6.1 frames.
In the starter slot for the Sunday finale, the A’s will send out Paul Blackburn. This year over his five starts Blackburn is 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA and 23 Ks in 31.0 innings. Blackburn is 19-25 with a 4.66 ERA in 77 career games (73 starts).
Baltimore Orioles Betting Preview
Over on the Orioles’ side, they took on the Los Angeles Angels this week. Baltimore won that series with victories 4-2 Monday and 6-5 Wednesday (alongside a game two loss 7-4). On Saturday versus the A’s, Baltimore bagged nine team hits in the win. Cole Irvin lasted 7.0 clean frames in the start with four hits, no walks and five strikeouts.
It’ll be Albert Suarez in the starting pitcher role for the O’s on Sunday. This year across two starts Suarez is 1-0 with a clean ERA. He has nine Ks in 11.1 innings. Suarez holds a 4-8 career record with a 4.11 ERA in 42 games (14 starts).
A’s vs Orioles Injury Notes
Athletics 2B Zack Gelof was placed on the 10-day Injured List on Thursday due to a strained left oblique.
Orioles SP John Means will make another rehab start on Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk. Means is coming back from a forearm issue.
Baltimore Orioles Team Facts
- The Orioles have lost four of their last five games as home favorites against AL West opponents following a win.
- The Orioles have covered the run line in each of their last five home games after playing the previous day.
- The Orioles have led after 5 innings in each of their last five games against the Athletics.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Orioles’ last three day games.
Oakland Athletics Team Facts
- The Athletics have won six of their last nine games as road underdogs against American League opponents following a road loss.
- The Athletics have covered the run line in six of their last seven day games against American League opponents following a loss.
- The Athletics have won the first inning in three of their last four games as underdogs against the Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Athletics’ last seven day games.
Baltimore Orioles vs Oakland Athletics Prediction
I’ll probably stay with the Orioles here. Suarez is looking good over his first two starts. He’s gone 5.2 innings in each, totaling seven hits, two walks, nine Ks and zero earned runs. As for Blackburn, he’s been a little shaky at times lately with seven earned in his last 11.2 innings. Blackburn gave up 11 hits and five walks in that pair.
On Saturday in game two, the O’s got home runs from Gunnar Henderson (two runs; two RBI), Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle. It was a nice offensive effort overall, with only Colton Cowser (0-for-3) failing to get on base. I like the O’s to keep it going in the finale.