- What: MLB Regular Season Game
- When: Tuesday, September 17
- Who: Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago Cubs
- Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
- Where: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
The Cubs aim to build on their two-game winning streak as they enter this interleague game, while the Athletics hope to break their three-game losing streak.
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are currently in fourth place in the American League West, trailing the leading Houston Astros by 16.5 games. They are also 14.5 games behind in the AL Wild Card race, making it unlikely that they will make the postseason this year.
They can impact the NL Wild Card race by defeating the Chicago Cubs, which must recover from its recent series loss to the worst team in the majors.
Tonight’s starters. pic.twitter.com/rmZkhBYBAP
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) September 17, 2024
With the Oakland Athletics effectively out of postseason contention, the upcoming series will be crucial for the Chicago Cubs, who aim to secure the final NL Wild Card spot.
The Athletics enter the series on the back of two consecutive losses, while the Cubs are striving for back-to-back wins.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are in second place in the National League Central, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by a 10-game margin.
While the Brewers have created a significant gap in the divisional race, the Cubs are still in contention for the NL Wild Card, sitting just five games behind the New York Mets, who currently hold the final spot.
Game 2 vs. Oakland!
Tune in: https://t.co/Gs2hZXyTjH pic.twitter.com/wt6JTS5q7S
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 17, 2024
The Chicago Cubs boast four players with 20 or more home runs, with Ian Happ setting the pace at 23. Happ also leads the team in RBIs with 83 and is currently on a five-game hitting streak.
The Cubs will have Jordan Wicks on the mound for his tenth start of the season. Wicks had been sidelined due to injury for about three months and made his return in early September. Since his return, he has made three starts and recorded a 1-2 record.
In his last outing, Wicks struggled, giving up seven runs in just three innings. This time around, he’ll be focused on delivering a stronger performance.
Wicks is still working on refining the movement of his pitches, and these upcoming games will be crucial in helping him regain his previous form.
A’s-Cubs Best Bet
The Cubs bats overwhelmed the A’s yesterday en route to a 9-2 victory. The A’s are not playing for much at this point in the season after being eliminated from playoff contention.
The Cubs however are trying to keep their wild-card playoff hopes alive. The wind at Wrigley Field always plays a factor in these matchups. While the total of 8 runs feels low, I’m going to stay away from it after yesterday’s offensive explosion.
I think the Cubs win this one with ease as they are clearly playing for more stakes at this point. The Cubs on the moneyline is the best bet in this one.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
