The Oakland Athletics (12-49) and Pittsburgh Pirates (31-27) open up a 3-game set Monday at PNC Park. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Athletics vs. Pirates odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting since 2019, when the Pirates won 2 of 3.
The A’s have lost 4 in a row and have just 3 wins in their last 20 games. They are last in runs/9 (3.48), batting average (.217), OPS (.644), home runs (0.96), runs/9 allowed (7.06), OBA (.280), OPS (.863) and home runs allowed (1.71).
The Pirates are on a heater, winners of 5 in a row, including a 3-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend. They’re just a half-game out of 1st place in the NL Central. They’re also 10-6 against left-handed starters, which they’ll face Monday.
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Athletics at Pirates projected starters
LHP JP Sears vs. RHP Johan Oviedo
Sears (0-3, 4.37 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 1.08 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 8.1 K/9 in 59 2/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K in 6 IP vs. Atlanta Braves Tuesday
- Has never faced Pirates
- Is 0-3, 5.97 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 8.8 K/9 in 6 road starts vs. 0-0, 2.57 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 7.4 K/9 in 5 home starts
Oviedo (3-4, 4.50 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 1.55 WHIP, 4.7 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 in 58 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 4 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 5 BB, 5 K vs. San Francisco Giants Tuesday
- Has never faced Athletics
- Last 4 starts: 21 IP, 15 H, 6 ER, 15 BB, 20 K, 2.57 ERA
Athletics at Pirates odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:10 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Athletics +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Pirates -185 (bet $185 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Athletics +1.5 (-130) | Pirates -1.5 (+105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
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Athletics at Pirates picks and predictions
Prediction
Pirates 6, Athletics 4
Moneyline
The key in this one is Oviedo limiting the walks as he has allowed at least 2 free passes in his last 7 starts. The Bucs are decent at home at 15-13. The A’s have been outscored 54-25 over the last 10 games. So they aren’t matching up well with anyone right now. But I have a big problem paying -185 on a team hovering around .500 that wasn’t expected to compete this year.
Instead, I’m going with JOHAN OVIEDO UNDER 17.5 OUTS (-135). He’s just too inefficient and has gone 6 innings in just 1 of his last 7 starts.
Run line/Against the spread
Pittsburgh is 32-26 on the RL this season and 14-14 at home. One of the keys to the Pirates’ success has been their 7th-ranked bullpen ERA at 3.55. One note of caution, though, is closer David Bednar is almost certainly unavailable Monday after recording saves in 3 straight games. He was dominant in what was the first time in his career pitching 3 straight days.
I’m still going to LEAN PIRATES -1.5 (+105), but it’s just a lean because they’re likely without their closer.
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Over/Under
It’s a 76-degree day with a 9-mph wind blowing out to right-center. The Over is 3-0-1 in Oviedo’s last 4 home starts with a total set between 7.0-8.5. The Over has cashed in the last 4 meetings between the teams. I look for a lot of traffic on the bases and will take the OVER 8.5 (-120).
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