Oakland Athletics vs Chicago Cubs Prediction MLB Picks 9/18/24

In this article, we will formulate an Oakland Athletics vs Chicago Cubs prediction for this MLB game on Wednesday, September 18th at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. To formulate this prediction for game three in the series, we will examine:

• The Athletics’ recent form and recent player performance 
• The Cubs’ recent form and recent play performance
• Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Oakland 
• Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Chicago 
• Recent betting trends in games played between Oakland and Chicago 
• A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Today’s Game between Oakland and Chicago

Oakland Athletics Betting Preview

The Oakland Athletics are 66-86 this year and they have lost three of their last four games. Oakland lost game one in this series, but they won game two by a score of 4-3 on Tuesday. Prior to this series, the Athletics lost two out of three against the White Sox, won two out of three against the Astros, and lost two out of three against the Tigers. Oakland is 4-6 in their last 10 games and they are fourth in the AL West. 

The Oakland pitching staff has a 4.34 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and a .254 opponent batting average. The Athletics offense has scored 613 runs with a .235 batting average and a .303 on-base percentage. Brent Rooker is batting .302 with 38 home runs and 109 RBI’s for the Athletics this season. 

Chicago Cubs Betting Preview

The Chicago Cubs are 77-74 this season and they have won two of their last three games. Chicago won game one in this series by a score of 9-2 but did lose on Tuesday. Prior to this series, the Cubs lost two out of three against the Rockies, won two out of three against the Dodgers, and lost two out of three against the Yankees. Chicago is 5-6 in their last 11 games and they are second in the NL Central. 

The Chicago pitching staff has a 3.80 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and a .238 opponent batting average. The Cubs offense has scored 695 runs with a .243 batting average and a .318 on-base percentage. Seiya Suzuki is batting .278 with 20 home runs and 67 RBI’s for the Cubs this season. 

Starting Pitchers

The projected starting pitcher for Oakland is Brady Basso, who is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP over 14.2 innings pitched this season. Basso has allowed zero earned runs and eight hits over his last two starts (10.1 IP). The projected starting pitcher for Chicago is Justin Steele, who is 5-5 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP over 128.0 innings pitched this year. Steele has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five straight starts but was put on the IL after his start on August 27th. 

Why the Cubs will beat the Athletics 

• The Cubs have won each of their last nine home games against AL West opponents following a home loss.
• The Athletics have lost each of their last four games against the Cubs following a win.
• The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last seven-day games against AL West opponents following a home loss.
• The Athletics have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five-day games against National League opponents following a road win.

Why the Athletics will beat the Cubs

• The Athletics have won six of their last seven games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents following a win.
• The Athletics have covered the run line in each of their last seven games against NL Central opponents following a road win.
• The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in three of their last four-day games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
• The Cubs have trailed after 3 innings in four of their last six games as home favorites against American League opponents.

Total Runs Facts

• Eight of the Cubs’ last nine home games against AL West opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Three of the Athletics’ last four games against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Athletics’ last four games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last four home games.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Justin Steele has recorded six or more strikeouts in five of his last six home appearances against AL opponents.
• Nick Madrigal has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances with his team as a favorite against AL West opponents.
• Justin Steele has recorded a win in four of his last five home appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
• Ian Happ has hit at least one home run in two of the Cubs’ last three home games against the Athletics.
• Ian Happ has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Cubs’ last six games as favorites against the Athletics.
• Cody Bellinger has scored at least one run in each of his nine previous appearances against the Athletics after playing the previous day.
• Ian Happ has recorded at least one Single in each of the Cubs’ last eight games as favorites.
• Nick Madrigal has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 10 appearances with his team as a favorite against AL West opponents.

Oakland Athletics Player Prop Facts

• Lawrence Butler has hit at least one home run in each of his last four road appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Lawrence Butler has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last four road appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Lawrence Butler has scored at least one run in each of his last eight appearances with the Athletics as underdogs against NL opponents.
• JJ Bleday has recorded at least one Single in eight of the Athletics’ last nine games as road underdogs against NL opponents.
• Lawrence Butler has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 12 appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Brent Rooker has recorded at least one hit in each of the Athletics’ last 16 games as underdogs.
• Esteury Ruiz has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances with the Athletics as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.

Oakland Athletics vs Chicago Cubs Prediction 

Both of these teams have won one game in the series so far and they will look for the series win here. Oakland is 30-47 on the road this season, while Chicago is 39-34 at home. The Cubs have played well at home for most of the season and they are starting Justin Steele, who has been very good this season, despite battling multiple injuries. Oakland is going with Brady Basso, who has pitched very well in his last two starts. This should be a pretty good pitching matchup and I think runs are going to be at a premium, so I am taking the under here. 

David Racey's Pick: Under 7.5