The Milwaukee Brewers (74-54) aim to secure a series victory against the Oakland Athletics (55-74) in the final matchup of their three-game interleague series on Sunday afternoon. The game will take place at Oakland Coliseum, starting at 4:07 PM ET.
Frankie Montas, boasting a record of 6-8 and a 4.57 ERA, will be on the mound for the Brewers. The Athletics will respond with Joey Estes, who holds a 5-6 record and a 4.44 ERA.
In recent matchups, Oakland has a slight edge, winning six of the last ten games against Milwaukee.
**This preview was prepared prior to Saturday’s game.**
For reliable MLB predictions, consider our expert analyses.
Milwaukee Seeks to Extend Their Lead in the NL Central
The Brewers ended their two-game losing streak with a win over the Athletics in the series opener, marking their seventh victory in the last ten games. They currently sit comfortably atop the NL Central, holding a significant 10-game advantage over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Milwaukee is currently averaging 4.80 runs per game, with a team batting average of .254, ranking them seventh in the league. Their on-base percentage stands at .331, which is third-best, while their slugging percentage of .405 puts them at 13th.
Leading the Brewers is William Contreras, who has a .287 batting average, while Willy Adames leads the team with 22 home runs and 85 RBIs.
On the pitching side, Milwaukee has been solid, allowing only 3.65 runs per game. Opponents are hitting .239 against them, placing the Brewers 14th in the league. They boast a 3.68 ERA, ranking third overall, with a WHIP of 1.25, which is 12th.
In his last outing, Montas delivered an impressive performance, surrendering just one hit and no runs over seven innings, leading to a 3-2 win against the Cardinals. A repeat of this form will be essential for securing a victory against Oakland.
Oakland Aims to Break Out of Recent Struggles
The Athletics have faced challenges recently, losing four of their last six games. They sit fourth in the AL West, trailing third-place Texas by five games. Even though playoff aspirations are dim, Oakland is looking to play the role of spoiler as they approach the season’s end, starting with a potential win on Sunday.
Oakland is averaging 3.98 runs per game, but their .230 batting average ranks them 28th in the league. Their on-base percentage of .303 is 24th, while their slugging percentage of .390 is 19th.
Brent Rooker has been a standout player for the Athletics, leading the team with a .285 batting average, along with 29 home runs and 84 RBIs.
Oakland’s pitching performance has struggled, allowing 4.16 runs per game. Opponents are hitting .250 against the Athletics, placing them 24th in the league. Their ERA of 4.25 slots them at 22nd, while their WHIP of 1.31 is 24th.
Estes, in his last start, faced adversity, giving up three hits and one run over 7.2 innings, resulting in a narrow 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay. He will need to replicate his earlier successes to help his team secure a win in this game.
Best Bets for Milwaukee Brewers vs. Oakland Athletics
As the Athletics split their last eight games and the Brewers split their last four, it appears that Oakland may bounce back despite their recent offensive struggles. Montas has shown inconsistency, allowing 13 runs in his last five starts, including 17 runs across his last five road appearances. With Milwaukee’s bullpen showing signs of fatigue, Oakland could find opportunities to capitalize.
While the Brewers have remained productive, scoring 17 runs in their last three games, they may find it challenging to maintain that momentum against Estes, who has performed well, yielding only eight runs in his last five starts. His ability to keep Milwaukee’s offense under control could be a deciding factor. The recommendation is to consider Oakland to cover the money line in this matchup.
