From Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, we have the Athletics and White Sox facing off in an AL matchup. This one gets started at 2:10 PM ET and is being televised by NBCS. The Athletics are the heavy money line favorites, with their odds sitting at -185 compared to the White Sox at +156. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs.
JP Sears is starting for the Athletics, and he will be facing off against Sean Burke for the White Sox. Oakland is 65-84 this season, and they are in 4th place in the AL West. The White Sox are just 34-115, and they are 5th in the AL Central.
Oakland vs. Chicago Matchup At A Glance
- Teams: Athletics at White Sox
- Where: Guaranteed Rate Field Chicago
- Date: Sunday, September 15th
- Betting Odds OAK -185 | CHW +156 O/U 8
Athletics vs White Sox Last Game Recap
Chicago picked up a 7-6 win over the Athletics in the most recent game of this series. The White Sox had a two-run lead going into the 9th inning and had to hold on for the win as the A's scored three runs in the final frame. Heading into the game, the White Sox were at +146 on the money line.
Both teams scored two runs in the 2nd inning, and the A's actually outhit the White Sox in the game 11 to 16. Chicago had five more strikeouts than Oakland, with the pitching staff combining for 15 K's.
Chris Flexen got the start for the White Sox, going just five innings while giving up six hits and striking out eight. He didn't give up a run in the game but did finish with a high pitch count and issued two walks. Gus Varland got the win out of the bullpen, and Liam Hendriks got the save.
Athletics Preview
Overall, the Athletics have a run line record of 82-67 this season, with an average run margin of +3.2 in wins and -3.6 in losses. They are currently 4th in the AL West with a 65-84 record, 15.5 games behind the Astros. The over/under record for Oakland games is 70-77, and the average run total for their games is 8.7 runs.
Looking at their series record, the Athletics are 18-24-5, and they have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games. Today, they are tied 1-1 with the White Sox in their current series. When the over/under line is set at 8 runs, Oakland's O/U record is 18-16-1 this season.
Left-hander JP Sears gets the start for the Athletics today as he faces the White Sox on the road. Sears has made 29 starts this season and has a record of 11-10 with a 4.18 ERA. In his 29 appearances, he has turned in 12 quality starts and is averaging 6.76 strikeouts per nine innings. Sears most recently faced the Astros, where he finished with a no-decision, going six innings and not allowing a run. Before that outing, he had given up at least one homer in three straight starts. Sears' ERA at home is 8.1 compared to 3.77 on the road.
For the season, the Athletics are averaging just 4.1 runs per game, which is 26th in the league. However, they do have the 6th most home runs in the league and are batting a collective .235. As a team, they are also near the bottom of the league in strikeouts and on-base percentage.
Designated hitter Brent Rooker has been a bright spot for the Athletics this season, as he is batting .301 with 36 homers and 105 RBIs. He is also on a five-game hitting streak and has gone 16/43 with three homers over his last 10 games. Catcher Shea Langeliers is 2nd on the team with 25 homers but is batting just .217.
White Sox Preview
Chicago White Sox games have had a combined run average of 8.2 this season, and their over/under record is 64-77. When the over/under line is set at 8 runs, their record is 12-12-3. The White Sox have been the favorite in just eight games this season, going 5-3 against the run line.
With a record of 34-115, the White Sox are 5th in the AL Central and trail the Guardians by 51 games. Chicago has dropped 20 straight series and their overall series record is 6-40-2 this season. At home, they are 19-58, compared to 15-57 on the road.
Sean Burke is making his first start of the season for the White Sox, and he is coming off a relief appearance against the Guardians. In that outing, he went 3 innings, giving up 1 run on 3 hits and striking out 3.
For the season, the White Sox are averaging just 3.1 runs per game, which is the worst mark in the majors. They are also the league's worst home run-hitting team, and their collective batting average of .222 is 22nd in the league. Chicago's team on-base percentage of .279 is also the worst in the league.
Andrew Vaughn and Andrew Benintendi have been the team's top power threats this season, with each having 17 home runs. Vaughn has been hot of late, going 13/33 in his last eight games, while Benintendi has also been swinging a good bat, going 10/33 in his last nine games. Luis Robert Jr. has also been swinging a good bat of late, going 4/33 in his last four games.
Athletics vs. White Sox Prediction: White Sox ML +156
The best way to play the Athletics vs. White Sox matchup is to take the White Sox on the money line, where they are currently sitting at +156. We have the White Sox taking this one by a score of 6-5.
Looking at some potential player props, we have JP Sears finishing with just five strikeouts, which ranks near the bottom of all starters today. As for the Athletics, they are projected to finish with nine strikeouts, and the White Sox with 11.
