Cleveland Guardians at Oakland Athletics odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Thursday’s Cleveland Guardians at Oakland Athletics odds and lines, with MLB expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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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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Cleveland Guardians at Oakland Athletics odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Friday’s Cleveland Guardians at Oakland Athletics odds and lines, with MLB expert picks and predictions.

The Cleveland Guardians (7-12) and Oakland Athletics (10-9) open a 3-game series Friday at 9:40 p.m. ET at Oakland Coliseum. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Guardians vs. Athletics odds with MLB picks and predictions.

Season series: First meeting. Oakland went 4-2 vs. Cleveland in 2021 with the Under going 4-2.

Cleveland has sputtered since a 7-5 start to the season. The Guardians have lost 7 in a row, logging just 2.0 runs per game and a 5.72 ERA in the skid.

The Athletics have struggled offensively recently. For the season, they’ve averaged 3.79 RPG, but over the last 12 games they managed just 2.5 RPG with an anemic slash line of .193/.255/.304 (.559 OPS).

Guardians at Athletics projected starters

RHP Aaron Civale vs. RHP Frankie Montas

Civale (0-2, 9.58 ERA) is tabbed for his fourth start of the year. He has a 1.94 WHIP, 4.4 BB/9 and 9.6 K/9 through 10 1/3 IP.

  • Did not make it past 3 IP in his last start, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits in a 10-2 loss at the New York Yankees Sunday.
  • Clocked a 3.84 ERA in 124 1/3 IP last season.
  • Has pitched well on the road over his career, holding foes to a .701 OPS.

Montas (2-2, 3.28 ERA) makes his fifth start. He has a 0.81 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 9.1 K/9 through 24 2/3 IP.

  • Coming off a solid Saturday home outing against the Texas Rangers (7 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 8 K) and has allowed just 3 ER in 13 1/3 IP at home this season.

Guardians at Athletics odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:45 p.m. ET.

  • Money line: Guardians +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Athletics -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Guardians +1.5 (-180) | Athletics -1.5 (+145)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

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Guardians at Athletics picks and predictions

Prediction

Athletics 4, Guardians 2

Money line

The money line has tilted a bit too far toward the Oakland camp. With Montas on the mound, the A’s are the lean, but the better value here is trying them on the run line.

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Run line/Against the spread

Oakland was idle Thursday, and its bullpen is in solid shape after also having Monday off. Montas has dominant-albeit-small-sample numbers against Cleveland batters. And the Guardians are out of sync.

It goes a bit against the grain with a low total, but the reward here is enough. BACK THE ATHLETICS -1.5 (+145).

Over/Under

Even at 3.79 RPG, the Oakland offense is out too far over its skis. Both starting pitchers figure as being better than their surface numbers, and both squads have average-or-better bullpens. And the game is being played in a park that definitely skews toward pitching in night games.

The number is low here, and one might be better served in holding for a bit of a sway toward the Over. But the UNDER 6.5 (-110) has some minor value.

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