The Chicago Cubs (8-6) and Oakland Athletics (3-13) swing into a 3-game series at Oakland Coliseum Monday. First pitch is 9:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Athletics odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting of 2023. These clubs have not met since 2019.
Chicago took 2 of 3 games from the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend. The Cubs are 4-2 over their last 6 games.
The Athletics were swept by the New York Mets over the weekend and are just 1-10 across their last 11 games. Oakland ranks last in MLB in pitching/defense with 7.81 runs allowed per game and owns an 8.45 ERA over that 11-game stretch.
Cubs at Athletics projected starters
RHP Hayden Wesneski vs. LHP Kyle Muller
Wesneski (0-0 7.50 ERA) is tabbed for his 3rd start. He has a 2.83 WHIP 9.0 BB/9 and 6.0 K/9 through 6 IP.
- Posted a 2.33 over 33 IP in his rookie season in 2022
- Has already allowed the same number of home runs (3) he did in his solid rookie season
Muller (0-0 5.52 ERA) makes his 4th start of the 2023 season. Muller owns a 1.50 WHIP 4.3 BB/9 and 6.8 K/9 through 14 2/3 IP.
- Has a 5.23 ERA in 63 2/3 career IP (2021-23)
- Was roughed up for 6 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks with 3 K over 4 innings in his last start at the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday
Cubs at Athletics odds
Provided by BetMGM SportsbookUSA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub Lines last updated at 11:28 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Cubs -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Athletics +115 (bet $100 to win $123)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs -1.5 (+125) | Athletics +1.5 (-150)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Cubs at Athletics picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 6 Athletics 3
Moneyline
The Cubs have analytic support figures that indicate better days ahead on both sides of the runs/runs allowed equation but they are more worth some action on the Run Line.
PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
Wesneski had a strong Cactus League campaign (2.12 ERA 22 K 6 BB in 17 IP) and it is worth looking past his clunker and taking Chicago to get by with a lead of 2 or more in this one.
The Cubs should have gotten a shot of confidence with their weekend performance against the Dodgers. Oakland’s bullpen has in some respects pitched worse than what shows in its 6.11 ERA.
TAKE CHICAGO -1.5 (+125).
Over/Under
The Over is 10-5-1 in Oakland’s games.
A 15-mile-an-hour breeze to right-center field is in the forecast. Consider a partial-unit play on the Over 8 if the price drops. Otherwise PASS.
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