The Oakland Athletics are set to take on the Chicago White Sox this Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field, with the game scheduled to begin at 1:10 p.m. CT.
Oakland (65-83 SU, 81-67 RL, and 69-76-3 O/U) will have left-hander JP Sears on the mound. The 28-year-old pitcher boasts an 11-10 record, along with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 29 games this season, accumulating 163.2 innings pitched.
On the other hand, Chicago (33-115 SU, 58-90 RL, and 64-76-8 O/U) has not announced a starting pitcher, indicating that they will likely rely on a combination of relievers throughout the game.
*This article was written prior to the conclusion of Saturday’s game.
Oakland’s Resurgence Since the All-Star Break
Since the All-Star break, Oakland has shown improvement, recording a 27-22 record. In their previous series, they managed to win two out of three games against Houston. Currently, the A’s stand at 29-44 in away games and 26-38 in day games this season. As the season winds down, can Oakland finish strong and leave a lasting impression?
Offensively, Oakland ranks 25th in on-base percentage (.303) and 18th in OPS (.701) while hitting 186 home runs, putting them fifth in that category. The Athletics’ pitching staff has a 4.32 ERA, ranking 22nd, and a 1.32 WHIP, which places them 25th, with a .251 opponent batting average at 24th.
JP Sears is expected to start for the A’s on Sunday. In his latest performance, he pitched six innings against the Astros, allowing four hits and two walks while keeping them scoreless. He owns a 5-4 record with a 3.55 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 15 road starts this season. His last encounter with the White Sox was on August 5, where he limited them to one run and three hits over seven innings, striking out five batters. Despite this, he has struggled historically against Chicago, with a 1-2 record and a 7.80 ERA in three career appearances (15.0 IP).
Challenging Season for the White Sox Fans
The White Sox faced a tough series against division rivals, Cleveland, resulting in a sweep. With a recent record of 2-8 in their last ten games and a dismal 6-44 in the latter half of the season, fans are left wondering if there’s any chance for an exciting finish.
The Southsiders currently sit at the bottom of the league, ranking 30th in on-base percentage (.278) and OPS (.616), alongside 115 home runs, also last in the league. Their pitching staff is not faring any better, holding a 4.85 ERA (27th) and a 1.45 WHIP (29th) so far this season.
With no confirmed starter for Sunday’s game, Chicago is likely to utilize a bullpen approach, similar to their strategy five games ago. Their bullpen currently ranks 29th in ERA (4.87) and WHIP (1.53), having allowed 77 home runs this year (28th). They also lead the league in walks allowed with 301 and have the fewest saves at 18.
Betting Insights for Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox
Against left-handed pitchers, Chicago struggles with a .219 batting average, .280 OBP, .313 SLG, and .593 OPS, along with a 27.1% strikeout rate. The White Sox are averaging just 2.76 runs per game in the latter half of the season. JP Sears, coming off a shutout against the Astros, has shown better performance on the road (3.55 ERA) compared to at home (4.92 ERA). His post-All-Star break stats show a 3.57 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP with a 30.2% hard-hit rate.
Oakland’s offense is poised to capitalize on a White Sox bullpen that has struggled, ranking 29th in ERA (4.84), 28th in xFIP (4.51), and 28th in SIERA (4.18), with the most walks in Major League Baseball at 302. The A’s are performing well in the second half of the season, hitting .249/.311/.416/.728, and have consistently performed in day games, with averages of .248/.324/.406/.730 and 4.5 runs scored per game.
Expect Oakland to cover the 1.5-run line in this afternoon clash in the Windy City!
