Leading up to game two of this American League battle, the White Sox (50-78, 26-36 home) will send Dylan Cease to the mound to take on the Athletics (37-91, 17-46 away) and Zach Neal. Find out who I like to come out on top in this Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox matchup in Chicago.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS VS CHICAGO WHITE SOX BETTING PICK

The Pick: Oakland Athletics +1.5 Runs

This game will be played at Guaranteed Rate Field at 7:10 ET on Friday, August 25th.

WHY BET THE OAKLAND ATHLETICS:

  • In their last five games, the Athletics have gone 3-2 vs. the runline.
  • The Athletics will be taking on a White Sox club that is just 4-6 vs. the runline in their past ten games.
  • Dylan Cease has struggled of late, coming in with an ERA of 6.11 over his last two starts.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS SEEK TO IMPROVE THEIR ROAD RECORD

Heading into today’s game, the Athletics are 5th in the AL West with an overall record of 37-91. When looking at their performance in their 41 series, Oakland is 10-30-1. Against below .500 teams, the Athletics are 18-18 while going 17-46 on the road and 20-45 at home.

Zach Neal is on the mound for today’s game, having already made seven appearances this season. His record stands at 0-0, and he has allowed a .352 batting average with an ERA of 8.25. Additionally, Neal has given up five home runs and has an OPS of 1.082.

Zach Neal recently took the mound for the Athletics, tossing 3 1/3 innings against the Orioles. Despite surrendering five runs on seven hits, he was unable to secure a decision as his team ultimately fell 12-1.

So far this season, the Athletics’ has gone deep 132 times, placing them 19th in the league. Over Oakland’s previous five games, they are 13th in runs scored, with their season average of 3.6 runs per game putting them 28th in the league. The Athletics’ overall team batting average stands at .223 along with an OBP of .300.

Zack Gelof has been a steady presence in the Oakland lineup this season, boasting a .294 batting average and slugging .610. Over the last ten games, he has been especially productive, leading the team in hits and batting an impressive .333.

WILL THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

The White Sox’s record of 50-78 has them sitting 4th in the AL Central. Chicago’s overall series record is 11-26-4, which includes dropping each of their last two series at home. The team’s season-long over/under record is 59-63 while going 63-65 against the runline. At Guaranteed Rate Field, they have a runline mark of 29-33.

Today marks Dylan Cease’s 27th appearance of the season, and he has a 5-6 record to show for it. His ERA sits at 4.50, with an opposing batting average of .323, and he has fanned 163 batters while keeping his WHIP at 1.41. On the road, Cease’s ERA is 7.33 as opposed to 4.03 when pitching at home.

Dylan Cease’s latest start against the Rockies saw him surrender five runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. Despite not earning a win or a loss, the White Sox emerged victorious with a 10-5 scoreline.

The White Sox have been one of the top power lineups in the league of late, having hit 11 home runs over their last ten games. Compared to other clubs, this is 10th best in that span. For the season, they are ranked 17th in home runs and 24th in slugging percentage. Overall, Chicago is averaging 4.1 runs per game (23rd).

Luis Robert Jr. is the White Sox’ home-run king in 2023, with 34 dingers and 69 RBIs to his name. His slugging percentage for the year is a robust .554.