The Athletics and Chicago Cubs meet Thursday in MLB action at Wrigley Field. Here’s a Cubs vs Athletics Prediction. This article will include a Cubs vs Athletics Pick.
Athletics Betting Preview
The Athletics are 30-31 on the year and play the Brewers and Astros next. The Athletics are batting. 247 on the season, have a .327 OBP, and have a .393 slugging percentage. The Athletics pitching staff has a 4.40 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Shea Langeliers leads the Athletics with 64 hits and 30 RBI, while Tyler Soderstrom and Nick Kurtz have combined for 112 hits and 71 RBI.
J.T. Ginn gets the ball for the Athletics, and he is 3-3 with a 2.87 ERA and 52 strikeouts this season. This will be Ginn’s first career game against the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
The Chicago Cubs are 32-30 on the year and play the Rockies and Giants next. The Chicago Cubs are batting .238 on the season and have a .333 OBP and a .388 slugging percentage. The Chicago Cubs’ pitching staff has a 4.15 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. Alex Bregman leads the Chicago Cubs with 63 hits and 19 RBI, while Pete Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner have combined for 117 hits and 61 RBI.
Shota Imanaga gets the ball for the Chicago Cubs, and he is 4-6 with a 4.37 ERA and 69 strikeouts this season. This will be Imanaga’s second career game against the Athletics.
Why the Chicago Cubs will win
- The Cubs have won 11 of their last 12 games after going to extra innings.
- The Athletics have lost four of their last five games against National League opponents following a win.
- The Athletics have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six road games against NL Central opponents following a win.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in three of their last four night games following an extra-innings loss.
- The Cubs have won the first inning in three of their last four games as favorites against the Athletics.
- The Athletics have trailed after 3 innings in five of their last six road games against NL Central opponents.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in five of their last six games against the Athletics.
Why the Athletics will win
- The Cubs have lost each of their last seven games as home favorites.
- The underdogs have won each of the Cubs’ last six games at Wrigley Field.
- The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 10 home games following a loss.
- The road team has covered the run line in each of the last seven games between the Athletics and Cubs.
- The Athletics have won the first inning in three of their last four games.
- The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in seven of their last eight home games.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Athletics’ last four games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Cubs’ last four games after going to extra innings have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Athletics’ last six games.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of Shota Imanaga’s last six home appearances as a starter.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Seiya Suzuki has hit at least one home run in three of the Cubs’ last four games against the Athletics.
- Seiya Suzuki has recorded at least one hit in each of his nine previous appearances against the Athletics after playing the previous day.
- Shota Imanaga has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
Athletics Player Prop Facts
- Nick Kurtz has hit a home run in three of the Athletics’ last four games against NL Central opponents.
- Nick Kurtz has recorded at least one hit in each of the Athletics’ last 15 games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Nick Kurtz ranks 1st amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.440) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Cubs rank 1st in the league for walks this season (270).
- The Cubs rank 28th in the league for home runs allowed this season (84).
- The Athletics rank 25th in the league for strikeouts this season (484).
- The Athletics rank 25th in the league for walks allowed this season (239).
Cubs vs Athletics Prediction
The Cubs continue to have a rough week and aren’t a side I’m looking to get behind. We know what Imanaga is capable of when he’s right, but he has a 4.37 ERA through 70 innings. Ginn has been stronger through 59.2 innings with a 2.87 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. The Athletics are also showing their offensive potential, putting up crooked numbers at a more consistent rate these days. We’re getting plus money with the team in better form. I’ll take it. Give me the Athletics.