Athletics vs Dodgers Prediction - MLB Picks 8/1/23

Los Angeles Dodgers (59-45) vs Oakland Athletics (30-77)

Game Info: Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 10:10 pm (Dodger Stadium)

Lance Lynn (6-9) (6.47) vs Ken Waldichuk (2-6) (6.38)

Betting Odds: Los Angeles Dodgers / Oakland Athletics --- Over/Under: Click Here for the Latest Odds

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The Oakland Athletics will head down to Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers for game one of their interleague series this Monday from Dodger Stadium.

Athletics Preview & Projected Starter

Oakland moved to 30-77 after taking two of three from Colorado. The Athletics showed up offensively this weekend at Coors, totaling 19 runs in two wins before being held scoreless Sunday. Mark Kotsay's team sits at the bottom of the AL West, and there's a chance they finish with the worse record in the league. The Oakland offense is scoring 2.81 runs per game, while batting .222, with a .303 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 6.00 ERA, with a 1.62 WHIP.

Ken Waldichuk (2-6, 6.38 ERA, 15 Ks) will get the ball for Oakland. The second-year lefty turned out a solid outing in San Francisco last week, striking out six through 4.2 innings, while holding the Giants to one run. Waldichuk showed up to face their crosstown foes, but it’s unlikely that success transfers to LA. Waldichuk has managed to clear five strikeouts in three straight spot starts, so he may be worth a look props wise.

Athletics Player Trends & Props

• Brent Rooker homered and plated three runs in the game two victory, and he leads Oakland in home runs (17) and RBI (47).

• Seth Brown produced a pair of runs in the same contest, and he’s up to ten home runs and 30 RBI.

• Jace Peterson has recorded a hit in seven of the previous ten games, and he’s totaled 28 RBI for the season.

• Leading hitter Esteury Ruiz and slugger Ryan Noda remain out of the lineup.

Dodgers Preview & Projected Starter

Los Angeles moved to 58-43 after dropping two of three to Cincinnati. The Dodgers closed July on a bit of a skid, but there’s hope they can start August strong here with the lowly Athletics. Dave Roberts' team holds a slim lead in the NL West, but the division remains far from decided. The Los Angeles offense is scoring 5.04 runs per game, while batting .248, with a .330 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.50 ERA, with a 1.28 WHIP.

Lance Lynn (6-9, 6.18 ERA, 139 Ks) will get the start for Los Angeles. The veteran pitcher will make his debut in blue here, in what could serve as a major boost to the Dodgers playoff push. Big Lance has dealt with inconsistency this season, but he’s also provided a handful of gems showing he can still throw at a high level. A change of scenery could do wonders for Lynn, and the Dodgers have grown to nurture pitchers and get the best out of them. Similar to the success Tyler Anderson experienced in 2022, Lynn could turn things back up in LA, and he’s got a great matchup to begin with here facing Oakland.

Dodgers Player Trends & Props

• Freddie Freeman has collected a hit in eight of the last nine games, and he leads the Dodgers in BA (.329) and hits (136), with 21 HR and 73 RBI.

• Mookie Betts brings an eight-game hit streak into this interleague series, and he leads the team in home runs (27), with 68 RBI.

• J.D. Martinez has produced a run in six of the previous nine games, and he leads LAD in RBI (75), with 25 homers.

• Max Muncy clubbed a pair of homers in the game two win over Cincy, and he’s tied with Betts for the team-lead in homers at 27, with 70 runs batted in.

Corey’s Free Pick

We’ve entered the month of August, and it just doesn’t seem like the Dodgers have placed the usual grip hold on the division just yet. San Francisco and Arizona will duke it out this week, but they’re both within striking distance, with the former right on LAD’s heels. That’s not even considering what could happen if San Diego puts a strong stretch together, so Los Angeles must get sharper as the season winds down. There should be an emphasis to capitalize on this light matchup with Oakland, and I think they handle business. Back the Dodgers for this Golden State battle.