The Milwaukee Brewers, leading the charge in the National League Central Division, continue their weekend interleague series against the Oakland Athletics in California this Saturday afternoon. The Brewers maintain a strong position for a playoff run, potentially eyeing the top seed in the National League. On the other hand, the A’s find themselves at the bottom of the American League West Division, as they prepare for a significant transition to Sacramento for the upcoming 2025 season. The pitching duel features Milwaukee’s right-hander Colin Rea (11-4, 3.52 ERA) facing off against Oakland’s Joe Boyle (3-5, 6.21 ERA). Fans can expect the first pitch at 4:07 PM EST.
Milwaukee Looks to Rea for Stability
The Milwaukee Brewers have demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the 2024 season, standing firm at the top of their division despite numerous injuries. They arrived in Oakland after a successful sweep against the Cleveland Guardians, although they faced challenges in St. Louis, dropping two out of three games to the Cardinals.
*This article was composed prior to the conclusion of Friday night’s game.
The Brewers are set to rely on Colin Rea, their most dependable starter, as he takes the mound against the A’s. Rea, who began the season in the bullpen, has solidified his role in the starting rotation since late April. With an impressive 11-4 record in 24 appearances, including eight quality starts, Rea has an ERA of 3.52 and a WHIP of 1.15. He has allowed 120 hits over 135.1 innings while striking out 108 batters and walking 36. His last outing was outstanding, as he pitched seven innings, allowing just two hits and no runs in a 2-0 victory against the Guardians.
Key Injuries: RP Jared Koenig, SP Joe Ross, RP Trevor Megill, LF Christian Yelich, C Gary Sanchez, and SP Robert Gasser are sidelined.
A’s Turn to Boyle Amid Transition
The Oakland Athletics are once again at the bottom of the AL West Division, concluding what has been a challenging period in Oakland over the past few years. The team is preparing for a move to Sacramento next season, with future plans for a permanent home in Las Vegas. Currently, the A’s are coming off a series where they lost two out of three games to the Tampa Bay Rays at home.
*This article was composed prior to the conclusion of Friday night’s game.
In the second game of this weekend series, the A’s will turn to Joe Boyle. Boyle holds a 3-5 record during the season with nine starts, including one quality start. He has an ERA of 6.21 along with a WHIP of 1.67. Over 37.2 innings, he has allowed 34 hits, struck out 41 batters, and walked 29. His last performance showcased improvement, leading to a 3-0 victory against the Rays, where he pitched six innings, gave up just two hits, and struck out six.
Key Injuries: LF Esteury Ruiz, SP Luis Medina, 1B Tyler Soderstrom, SP Alex Wood, and RP Dany Jimenez are unavailable.
Strategic Bets for Brewers vs. Athletics
The Brewers are keen on making a statement in Oakland, aiming to maintain their momentum against teams like Philadelphia and Los Angeles while securing one of the top two playoff spots in the National League. Colin Rea, coming off an impressive shutout performance against the Guardians, stands as their most effective pitcher. Over his recent five starts, the team has claimed victory in four. While Joe Boyle has shown flashes of potential, his tendency to allow walks—29 in just 37.2 innings—could prove detrimental against a Brewers lineup known for capitalizing on opportunities. Expect the Brewers to leverage this advantage, with Rea leading the way to a well-supported bullpen.
Bet on Milwaukee to cover the run line.
