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The Cleveland Guardians (3-0) and Oakland Athletics (0-3) wrap up their 4-game series Sunday. First pitch from the Oakland Coliseum is slated for 4:07 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: Guardians lead 3-0
The Guardians pounded out 15 hits in a 12-3 rout of the Athletics before a crowd of just 5,425 fans. Bay Area native LF Steven Kwan homered and reached base 4 times in the victory. Cleveland is on a 10-game road trip to begin their season with stops in Seattle and Minnesota next.
Oakland has struggled to get the bats going against the Cleveland rotation, scoring just 7 runs in the 3 games. They managed just 1 extra base hit on Saturday while starter JP Sears was beat up for 5 ER and 6 H in 3 2/3 IP. Oakland’s season-opening 7-game homestand continues with the Boston Red Sox coming to town.
Guardians at Athletics projected starters
RHP Carlos Carrasco vs. RHP Paul Blackman
Carrasco (3-8, 6.80 ERA in 2023) makes his 1st start. He had a 1.70 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9 and 6.6 K/9 in 90 innings with the New York Mets.
- 2023 road stats: 2-5, 5.44 ERA (49 2/3 IP, 30 ER) in 10 starts
- Last start vs. A’s: No-decision, 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 3-2 road victory April 15, 2023
Blackburn (4-7, 4.43 ERA in 2023) makes his 1st start. He had a 1.54 WHIP, 3.7 BB/9 and 9 K/9 in 103 2/3 innings.
- 2023 home stats: 2-3, 3.57 ERA (53 IP, 21 ER) in 10 starts
- Last start vs. Guardians: No-decision, 5 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 7 K in 7-6 road loss June 21, 2023
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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 8:08 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Guardians -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Athletics +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Guardians -1.5 (+135) | Athletics +1.5 (-160)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -125)
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Guardians at Athletics picks and predictions
Prediction
Guardians 6, Athletics 3
Moneyline
PASS.
I don’t see any reason why the Guardians (-125) don’t complete the sweep of the A’s on Sunday afternoon, but I’d rather take the better odds with the run line.
Run line/Against the spread
BET GUARDIANS -1.5 (+135).
This Oakland lineup won scare anyone this season and especially not a veteran like Carrasco. He’s looked good against the A’s throughout his career with a 4-2 record and a 3.18 ERA.
Cleveland has covered the run line in all 3 games thus far in this series. They also hit .258 as a team against right-handed pitchers last season. They knocked around RHP Ross Stripling in game 2 of this series for 5 runs on 7 hits in 5 innings. Blackburn is a career 5-5 with close to a 4 ERA against the Guardians.
Over/Under
BET OVER 8.5 (-105).
These 2 teams are 7-2-1 against the Over in their last 10 meetings. They have gone Over the total in all 3 games of this series (averaging 11 runs per game).
There will be runs scored in this game, you’ve got an aging veteran in Carrasco versus a guy who’s lost a bit of his shine being stuck in Oakland this long.
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