- What: MLB Regular Season Game
- When: Monday, September 16
- Who: Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago Cubs
- Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
- Where: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
On Monday, the Oakland Athletics face the Chicago Cubs for a three-game series at Wrigley Field. Joey Estes will start for the Athletics, while Shota Imanaga will take the mound for the Cubs.
Oakland Athletics
It’s worth noting that the Cubs can exploit Estes’s tendency to allow flyballs, especially if the wind is blowing out at Wrigley Field. Joey Estes has been in great form recently.
Over his last eight starts, Estes has posted a 3.50 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 35 strikeouts, and only five walks in 46.1 innings pitched.
The Athletics have been struggling to score runs this season, averaging just 4 runs per game, which ranks 26th in the league. However, they have shown power at the plate, ranking 6th in the league in home runs.
How we're lining up tonight ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rhEVuUkroy
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) September 16, 2024
As a team, their batting average is .234, placing them near the bottom of the league, and they also rank low in strikeouts. Oakland’s on-base percentage is just .303, which is 19th in the league.
Brent Rooker has been a standout performer for the Athletics, boasting a batting average of .301 and going 9 for 30 in his last seven games.
Rooker’s 37 homers rank 5th in the league, and he is 3rd in the MLB in RBIs with 107. Shea Langeliers follows closely behind in RBIs but has struggled with a batting average of just .219 for the season.
Chicago Cubs
Shota Imanaga has been the Cubs’ most effective pitcher this season, boasting a 21-6 record in his 27 starts. He excels at getting opposing batters to chase pitches, ranking in the 97th percentile in the MLB with a 34% chase rate.
Additionally, he maintains a solid whiff rate and displays excellent control, rarely issuing walks. With Imanaga on the mound, the Cubs are well-positioned to secure a victory.
Here is tonight's #Cubs starting lineup for our Hispanic and Latino Heritage Celebration!
Tune in: https://t.co/Gs2hZXyTjH pic.twitter.com/K6LHAbNEGb
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 16, 2024
Given the Athletics’ offensive struggles, Imanaga will likely deliver a strong performance, if he can pitching six or seven solid innings.
However, the Cubs are coming off a tough series loss against the Colorado Rockies, indicating they’re not at the top of their game currently. Their offensive struggles are evident, given their low slugging percentage and inability to make solid contact.
A’s-Cubs Best Bet
The A’s have been a difficult team to predict this season, they’ve lost 2 out of 3 to the worst team in baseball the White Sox after winning their series against the Astros.
Meanwhile the Cubs are coming off a series loss to the Rockies, another bad team. I don’t like either side in this one. I’m going to target the total instead.
It is at 8 runs and while that may seem low, I don’t think either team has much success scoring today. I believe Shota Imanaga will limit the A’s bats, while I don’t think the Cubs will be able to score.
I’ll take Under 8 runs as the best bet in this matchup.
Can the A’s sweep their series over the division leading Astros?
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
