The Milwaukee Brewers (73-53, 68-58 RL, 68-51-8 O/U) face off against the Oakland Athletics (54-73, 66-59 RL, 56-66-3 O/U) in a three-game series opener on Friday night. The Brewers will turn to Aaron Civale, while the A’s will counter with JP Sears. Notably, the Athletics swept the Brewers in their previous encounters last season.
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Milwaukee’s Dominance in the Central Division
Aaron Civale is set to take the mound on Friday. He delivered an impressive performance in his last outing, tossing six scoreless innings against the Guardians. Despite a 3.86 ERA this month, Civale’s overall season stats show inconsistency, with a 4.78 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP over 124.1 innings pitched. Historically, he has struggled against the Athletics, allowing eight runs in just 10 career innings versus them.
The Brewers are on a road trip, continuing to show their strength with three series wins out of their last four. They hold a commanding 11-game lead in the division. Last weekend, they swept the Guardians at home but faced challenges against the Cardinals, losing two out of three games. They currently sit six games above .500 on the road.
William Contreras is one of the standout players, accumulating 16 RBIs with an impressive 1.1 OPS this month. The 26-year-old catcher is having an exceptional season, hitting 17 home runs with 73 RBIs and an .830 OPS. Last season, he managed to score one RBI against the A’s.
The Brewers average 4.80 runs per game, positioning them 10th in the league, while their pitching staff boasts a solid 3.69 ERA, ranking third overall.
Oakland Looks to Capitalize at Home
The Athletics will rely on JP Sears for this matchup. Sears had a strong outing last time, allowing just one run in 7.1 innings against the Giants, earning a no-decision. He has been consistent lately, giving up one run or fewer in three of his last four starts. His season stats show a 4.15 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP with a 10-8 record over 141 innings. In his only previous meeting with the Brewers, he allowed just two runs in five innings.
Oakland has shown some improvement in recent games, winning three straight, including a series victory against the Mets. However, they have struggled recently, dropping the first two games against the Rays, scoring only two runs while allowing five. The Athletics are currently two games below .500 at home.
Shea Langeliers has been a key player, posting an impressive .931 OPS in August. The 26-year-old catcher is enjoying a breakout season, with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs, complemented by a .751 OPS. Last season, he posted a .708 OPS against the Brewers.
The Athletics average 3.99 runs per game, ranking them 25th in the league, while their pitching staff has a 4.23 ERA, placing them 21st overall.
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Strong Betting Insights for Brewers vs. Athletics
The Milwaukee Brewers are currently on a roll, winning six of their last eight games. While they have all but secured the division title, these matchups remain significant as they vie for the best record in the National League. Meanwhile, the Oakland Athletics have struggled recently, losing four of their last five games.
Brewers pitcher Aaron Civale has been reliable, following up his six scoreless innings against the Guardians with strong performances. He has limited opponents to two or fewer runs in three of his last four starts. On the other hand, A’s pitcher JP Sears has been in form, but his home performance has been less impressive, with a 4.27 ERA this season.
