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The Cleveland Guardians and Oakland Athletics open their seasons with the 1st game of a 4-game set Thursday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. First pitch is scheduled for 10:07 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Guardians vs. Athletics odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Guardians won 5-1 last season
The Guardians managed to win 76 games last season in the final campaign under the leadership of manager Terry Francona. The team turns to former Oakland A’s catcher Stephen Vogt as its manager heading into the 2024 season. Vogt played in Oakland from 2013-17, and again in 2022.
The Athletics play their 1st opener since revealing renderings of a new stadium in Las Vegas. The team plans to relocate to a temporary facility in Las Vegas after the lease with the Oakland Coliseum expires after the 2024 season, so this will be the final opener in the Bay Area for the team, barring a miracle. And tickets on the 3rd-party market can be had for as low as $9, if you’re in the area!
Cleveland won 2 of 3 games in Oakland last season, with the Over going 2-0-1 at the Coliseum.
Guardians at Athletics projected starters
RHP Shane Bieber vs. LHP Alex Wood
Bieber (6-6, 3.80 ERA) made 21 starts in 2023. He posted a 1.23 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 7.5 K/9 in 128 innings.
- 2023 road splits: 1-3, 4.14 ERA (63 IP, 29 ER — 10 HR), 12 BB, 47 K in 10 starts
- 2023 vs. A’s: No-decision, 6 IP, 3 ER, 3 H (0 HR), 1 BB, 7 K in 1 start, a 4-3 road loss April 4
- Career vs. Athletics: 0-1, 3.79 ERA (19 IP, 8 ER) in 3 starts
Wood (5-5, 4.33 ERA) made 12 starts and 17 relief appearances in 2023 with the San Francisco Giants. He posted a 1.43 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9 and 6.8 K/9 in 97 2/3 innings.
- 2023 home splits: 2-2, 4.20 ERA (49 1/3 IP, 23 ER — 5 HR), 18 BB, 37 K in 5 starts and 8 relief appearances
- 2023 vs. Guardians: 4 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K in 1 relief appearance, a 6-5 home victory in extra innings Sept. 13 for the Giants
- Career vs. Guardians: 2-0, 0.00 ERA (14 2/3 IP) in 2 starts and 1 relief appearance
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Guardians at Athletics odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:25 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Guardians -155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Athletics +130 (bet $100 to win $130)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Guardians -1.5 (+110) | Athletics +1.5 (-135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Guardians at Athletics picks and predictions
Prediction
Guardians 4, Athletics 2
Moneyline
The GUARDIANS (-155) open as moderate favorites on the road in the final opener in Oakland against the Athletics (+130). Cleveland dominated this series in 2023, winning 5 of the 6 meetings, and despite the bunting and Opening Day festivities, it is likely to be a ghost town. The lack of energy and a hometown crowd will give Cleveland an extra boost.
Run line/Against the spread
The GUARDIANS -1.5 (+110) are worth playing lightly, although it should be noted they were just 24-35 against left-handed starting pitchers, so it might take getting to the bullpen before Cleveland is able to get any separation.
Over/Under
UNDER 7.5 (-115) is the lean, as both of these teams roll out pretty solid pitchers for the opener, and neither team is expected to be much of an offensive juggernaut.
While the Over went a surprising 2-0-1 in the 3 meetings last season in Oakland, you shouldn’t rely upon that happening again. A lower-scoring game with runs at a premium will likely be the rule.
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