Oakland Athletics vs Milwaukee Brewers Picks and Predictions August 23rd 2024

From Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, we have the Brewers and Athletics facing off in an interleague matchup. The over/under line is currently at 7.5 runs, and the Brewers are favored on the money line (-132) compared to the Athletics at +112.

The forecast for tonight’s game is 67 degrees with cloudy skies. First pitch is set for 9:40 PM ET, and BSWI will have the game on TV. Aaron Civale is starting for the Brewers, while the Athletics are going with JP Sears. Milwaukee is 73-54 this season, while the Athletics are 55-73.

Milwaukee is sending Aaron Civale to the mound today, and he comes in with a record of 4-8 and an ERA of 4.78. In his 24 starts, he has pitched six innings of shutout ball in each of his last two outings. Most recently, he faced the Guardians and gave up just four hits, one walk, and no runs in six innings of work. Before that, he gave up two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings of work. Opponents are batting .261 off Civale this season, and his ERA on the road is 6.89 compared to 3.70 at home.

For the season, the Brewers are averaging 4.7 runs per game, which is 11th in the league. Overall, they are batting .253, which is 7th in the MLB right now. The team’s on-base percentage of .331 is 3rd in the league, and they are also among the league leaders in walks. Milwaukee’s offense has been good at avoiding strikeouts, as they are 19th in the league in this category.

Willy Adames comes into the game as the Brewers’ top home run hitter, as his 22 homers is 14th in the league. He is also 9th in the MLB with 85 RBIs. Adames has gone deep three times in his last nine games, while going 10/32 overall. William Contreras has also homered three times in this stretch, while batting .312.

Left-hander JP Sears gets the start for the Athletics today as he faces the Brewers at home. Sears has made 25 starts this season and has a record of 10-8 with a 4.15 ERA. In his last outing, he went 7 2/3 innings, giving up just one earned run on seven hits. He finished with a no-decision in that outing. Before that, he had won three straight starts. Sears has been pitching well recently, as he has allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last five outings. Opponents are batting .242 off Sears this season.

For the season, the Athletics are averaging 4 runs per game, which is 25th in the league. As a team, they are batting just .231 and are also near the bottom of the league in strikeouts. One thing they have done well is hit home runs, as they are 8th in the league in that category. Brent Rooker has been a bright spot for the team, as he is batting .287 for the season and leads the team with 29 homers and 84 RBIs.

Over his last seven games, Miguel Andujar has gone 7/29, but he has not homered in that stretch and has just one RBI. JJ Bleday has three homers in his last six games but is batting just .217 in that stretch. Andujar comes into the game on a three-game hitting streak.

The Milwaukee Brewers Determined to Bounce Back Against Oakland Athletics

The Milwaukee Brewers are set to get back on the winning track as they kick off a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. Both teams are coming off Thursday games that continued recent trends, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup in Oakland.

Brewers Look to Regain Momentum

The Brewers have been on a rollercoaster ride recently, swinging between dramatic highs and frustrating lows. After enjoying a solid six-game winning streak, Milwaukee hit a snag, losing their last two games, including a tough 3-0 shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals. This fits a pattern where the Brewers win big, only to stumble right after, such as their five straight wins followed by three consecutive losses. Heading into the Oakland series, the team knows that consistency is key to getting their season back on the right track.

To reignite their offense, the Brewers are expected to have Blake Perkins back in the lineup. The outfielder and designated hitter, who has been out since August 11 with a calf injury, is one of Milwaukee’s best hitters against left-handed pitchers, holding a .290 average against them. His return couldn’t come at a better time, with the Athletics set to start left-hander JP Sears in the series opener.

Oakland Rides High on Strong Pitching

The Oakland Athletics have quietly been gaining momentum, winning or tying five consecutive series. This recent success is largely due to the stellar performances of their starting pitchers, who have managed to ease the burden on the bullpen. The A’s capped off a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 3-1 victory, finishing 2-2 overall, and allowed just 10 runs in their last six games.

Manager Mark Kotsay has expressed confidence in his starting rotation, emphasizing their ability to pitch deep into games and reduce the bullpen’s workload. This strength was on full display Thursday, as five relievers combined for four shutout innings, allowing just six hits.

Key Pitching Matchups

The series opener promises a compelling pitching duel. The Athletics will start JP Sears, who’s been on fire lately. Sears is unbeaten in his last four starts, holding a 3-0 record with an impressive 1.57 ERA. He also has a strong history against the Brewers, having won his only career start against them last year in Milwaukee.

On the other side, the Brewers will send Aaron Civale to the mound. Civale, who was acquired in a mid-season trade from the Tampa Bay Rays, has found his groove after a rocky start with his new team. He’s won his last two outings, giving up just two runs over 12 1/3 innings. However, his track record against the A’s isn’t as encouraging, with a 6.75 ERA in two previous starts.

Historical Challenges in Oakland

Adding to the Brewers’ challenges is their historical struggle in Oakland. Milwaukee hasn’t won a series at the Coliseum since 1995, a daunting statistic as they try to reverse their current fortunes. The A’s, who swept the Brewers in a three-game series in Milwaukee last year, are looking to continue their dominance in this interleague matchup.

Perkins’ Return Could Be a Game-Changer

Blake Perkins’ return to the Brewers lineup could be the turning point in this series. Known for his effectiveness against left-handers, Perkins could be the offensive spark Milwaukee desperately needs, especially against a tough pitcher like Sears. As the Brewers aim to snap their current losing streak, his contribution could be crucial.

Outlook for the Series

The Brewers are under significant pressure to regain their winning form as the playoff race intensifies. With Civale finding his rhythm and Perkins back in action, Milwaukee has the tools to turn things around. However, they’ll need to overcome both a strong Oakland team and their own historical challenges at the Coliseum to make it happen.

On the flip side, the A’s are riding a wave of confidence, fueled by strong pitching and recent success. If they can continue to limit opponents’ runs and get timely contributions from their offense, they’ll be tough to beat.

This series is shaping up to be a critical test for both teams, with each looking to either maintain momentum or get back on track as the season heads toward its final stretch.

For a money-line pick, our lean would be to take the Athletics to come out on top at home. We are also leaning towards taking the over, as this is projected to be the 5th lowest-scoring game of the day. Between the two starters, we have JP Sears as the better strikeout option over Aaron Civale for the Brewers.