Las Vegas A's

Can Oakland’s Bats Stay Hot Against Orioles Rodriguez?

by
Tony Reyes
July 7, 2024

What: MLB Regular Season Game
When: Sunday, July 7
Who: Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics
Time: 4:07 p.m. ET
Where: Oakland Coliseum (Oakland, CA)

The Oakland Athletics stunned the Baltimore Orioles with a 19-8 victory yesterday, marking one of the most surprising outcomes of the day.

With a chance to take two out of three games in the series on Sunday, the A’s face off against the American League’s top team once more.

Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore will send young right-hander Grayson Rodriguez to the mound, while Mitch Spence will start for Oakland. The Orioles are favored at -200 across the board, with the over/under set at 8.

Saturday’s dominant performance by the A’s left the Orioles unable to rally after the third inning. However, with Rodriguez taking the mound, Baltimore hopes for a turnaround.

One more on the road before coming home. pic.twitter.com/IRTy9HAS4S

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 7, 2024

Rodriguez, who has recovered from earlier injury issues, enters the game with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Rodriguez’s fastball velocity is a key asset. He is known for his elite whiff and chase rates.

Although he occasionally allows hard contact and his walk rate fluctuates, he is expected to contain the A’s offense, especially after their explosive performance yesterday.

Oakland Athletics

For the Athletics, Mitch Spence has kept the Orioles at bay, with Baltimore hitters going 0-9 against him in limited appearances.

Spence, sporting a 4.15 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, relies on pitch movement and groundball generation rather than strikeouts. His xERA of 3.62 suggests some of his struggles have been due to bad luck.

While the Orioles’ offense is potent, they are slightly less effective against right-handed pitching. If Spence can keep the ball in the park, he can keep the game close.

McCann vs. McCann.

Our McCann won. pic.twitter.com/tFxB2ldmpT

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) July 6, 2024

Historically, the A’s have had a mere six plate appearances against Rodriguez, with Brent Rooker being the sole player to have any success, going 2-2 against him.

This past success could be a glimmer of hope for the A’s in the upcoming game.

Despite their impressive run on Saturday, the Athletics’ .222 average against right-handed pitching this season indicates that their offensive explosion was an anomaly.

However, this could also mean that they are due for a breakout game. Sunday’s matchup is expected to be a tougher challenge for Oakland’s bats.

Orioles-Athletics Best Bet

Baltimore leads the AL East, while Oakland is last in the AL West. Trusting Rodriguez over Spence, the recommendation is to bet on the Orioles for today’s game.

The Orioles will win a low-scoring game, I’d also look at betting Under 8.5 runs if you can.