The Oakland Athletics are set to continue their road trip on Monday as they begin a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs at the historic Wrigley Field. After facing the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, the A’s remain distant from the playoff picture but are determined to finish strong and avoid another last-place finish in the American League West. Meanwhile, the Cubs, who once had hopes of a National League Wild Card spot, now find themselves six games back with only two weeks left in the season. The opening game will feature A’s right-hander Joey Estes (7-7, 4.36 ERA) going against Cubs’ lefty Shoto Imanga (13-3, 3.03 ERA). Game time is set for 7:40 PM EST.
A’s Depend on Estes to Rebound
The Oakland A’s have faced a challenging season in 2024, marked by off-field distractions related to their impending move to a new city and inconsistent on-field performance. With a record that reflects a struggle to compete, the A’s are playing in front of dwindling crowds at the Oakland Coliseum, often made up of friends and family. Recently, they split a series with the struggling White Sox, concluding with a narrow 4-3 defeat on Sunday, where they fell behind early and could not recover.
The series opener against the Cubs will see Joey Estes take the mound. With a record of 7-7 and eight quality starts, Estes has shown glimpses of promise for a future role in the rotation. He boasts an ERA of 4.36 and a WHIP of 1.13 after allowing 109 hits over 117.2 innings pitched. While he has not been a high-strikeout pitcher—accumulating just 88 strikeouts alongside 24 walks—his recent outing against Houston demonstrated resilience, as he pitched seven innings and allowed three runs in a 5-4 victory.
Key Injuries: RP Austin Adams, SP Ross Stripling, and SP Osvaldo Bido are sidelined.
Cubs Rely on Imanga’s Strong Performance
The Chicago Cubs return home after a challenging series against the Colorado Rockies, where they lost two of three games. They managed to avoid a sweep on Sunday with a 6-2 victory, thanks to a solid performance from starter Kyle Hendricks, who allowed only two hits while pitching six innings. As the Cubs sit six games out of the Wild Card race, they are focused on maintaining a winning record as the season winds down.
In Monday’s matchup, the Cubs will turn to rookie left-hander Shoto Imanga, who has adapted well to Major League Baseball after transitioning from Japan this offseason. With an impressive record of 13-3 and 17 quality starts under his belt, Imanga has posted an ERA of 3.03 and a WHIP of 1.02. He has allowed 138 hits over 160.1 innings, striking out 159 batters with just 25 walks. His last start showcased his capabilities, as he effectively controlled the game and limited scoring opportunities for the opposing team.
Strategic Bets for Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago Cubs
This matchup presents an interesting dynamic. Although Imanga appears to be the more dominant pitcher, he has struggled with home runs, surrendering 26 long balls this season. This trend could benefit the A’s, who have excelled at scoring runs through home runs, trailing only the New York Yankees in that category. It may be wise to consider placing bets on home run props for this game. However, the Cubs have an advantage due to Estes’s lower strikeout rate, which leads to more balls in play—especially significant at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are determined to capitalize on every opportunity as they fight for a winning record in the closing weeks of the season.
