The Oakland Athletics (24-63) and the Detroit Tigers (37-47) play the middle contest of a 3-game series Wednesday at Comerica Park. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Athletics vs. Tigers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Athletics lead 1-0 after winning Tuesday’s series opener 1-0 in 10 innings
The Athletics have racked up 3 wins in the past 4 games, all against AL Central opponents. Tuesday’s shutout in the series opener was just the team’s first since a 5-0 victory on the road against the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 4, 2022. Oakland was the last MLB team to record a shutout this season.
The Tigers fell back to Earth in a big way, getting blanked at Comerica Tuesday after posting a season-high 14 runs in the interleague series finale in Denver against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Detroit has been shut out 7 times just since May 29, and 11 times overall this season.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]
Athletics at Tigers projected starters
LHP Ken Waldichuk vs. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez
Waldichuk (1-5, 6.78 ERA) makes his 12th start and 20th appearance. He has a 1.92 WHIP, 5.6 BB/9 and 8.7 K/9 in 66 1/3 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 1 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K as an opener in a 3-2 road loss vs. the Cleveland Guardians June 20
- 2023 road splits: 1-3, 9.17 ERA (35 1/3 IP, 36 ER – 9 HR), 27 BB, 32 K, .345 OBA in 6 starts and 4 relief appearances
Rodriguez (4-4, 2.13 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 0.98 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 8.9 K/9 through 67 2/3 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K in a 6-5 home win vs. the Chicago White Sox May 28
- 2023 home splits: 3-1, 1.65 ERA (32 2/3 IP, 6 ER – 3 HR), 7 BB, 35 K, .184 OBA in 5 starts
- Returns after a 6-week stint on the 10-day injured list due to a finger injury
Athletics at Tigers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:24 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Athletics +180 (bet $100 to win $180) | Tigers -225 (bet $225 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Athletics +1.5 (-110) | Tigers -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW23 for $15 OFF a full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 9/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning!
Athletics at Tigers picks and predictions
Prediction
Tigers 6, Athletics 2
Moneyline
The Tigers (-225) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s quite risky on a team that has been shut out 11 times, including yesterday against the league’s worst team.
The pitching matchup is squarely in favor of the home side, as Detroit looks for the bounce back, but it is way too expensive straight up.
AVOID.
Run line/Against the spread
The TIGERS -1.5 (-110) is a much better play behind Rodriguez, who has been one of the more consistent pitchers for Detroit when healthy.
The Athletics picked up the shutout win Tuesday, but it’s likely to struggle mightily behind the southpaw Waldichuk.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Over/Under
UNDER 8.5 (-110) is the lean, as both of these teams are among the worst offenses in the majors. While Waldichuk has been very giving, Rodriguez has some decent numbers and he should be able to hold the A’s down.
The Under is 5-2 in the past 7 games for the Athletics against a left-handed starting pitcher and is 4-1 in their last 5 on the road vs. LHP.
The Under is also 5-2-1 in the past 8 meetings between these teams and has gone 3-1-1 in the previous 5 battles at Comerica.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]