Oakland Athletics
Chicago White Sox
(-115/-105)+145
The Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics are set to face off on September 14, 2024, in a crucial matchup at Guaranteed Rate Field. Both teams are having disappointing seasons, with the White Sox sitting at a dismal 33-115 record, while the Athletics carry a record of 65-83. The White Sox have already been eliminated from division contention, although they remain in the mix for a Wild Card spot.
In their most recent game, the Athletics narrowly edged out the White Sox, underscoring the struggles of Chicago, who is ranked 30th in the league for offense and bullpen power. Unfortunately, the White Sox’s best hitter this season appears to be anonymous, which only adds to their woes on the field.
The matchup highlights two right-handed pitchers: Chris Flexen, who is projected to start for the White Sox, and J.T. Ginn for the Athletics. Flexen has had a particularly rough season, his Win/Loss record standing at 2-14, with a below-average ERA of 5.26. He is ranked as the 300th best starting pitcher in MLB, putting him among the worst in the league. On the other hand, Ginn, despite being labeled as a bad pitcher by MLB standards, has somewhat better projections with an ERA of 4.58 and a 3.82 xFIP that suggests he could be due for better results given a little luck.
While Chris Flexen’s low strikeout rate may present some opportunities against the Athletics’ high-strikeout offense, his propensity to allow fly balls could spell trouble against a potent lineup that ranks 5th in home runs this season. Ginn’s groundball tendencies might favor the White Sox, but with their lack of power—ranking 30th in home runs—expectations should be tempered.
The game total is set at an average 8.5 runs, with the Athletics favored on the moneyline at -160. This sets an implied team total of 4.70 runs for Oakland, while the White Sox project a mere 3.80 runs, raising questions about their ability to keep up offensively. As both teams strive to end their seasons on a positive note, fans are left hoping for an exciting matchup.
Betting Trends
- Seth Brown – Over/Under 0.5 Singles (+135/-170)Seth Brown has hit the Singles Over in 9 of his last 16 games (+4.85 Units / 30% ROI)