Oakland Athletics vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 6/5/2023 Tips, Free Picks and Previews
The Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates will face off in a three-game interleague series at the stunning PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to kick off this Monday’s MLB action. After losing three straight road games, Oakland dropped to 12-49 overall, 5-25 on the road, and is stuck in worst place in the whole league, 30 games behind MLB’s top-ranked team, the Tampa Bay Rays. The Athletics have currently scored 206 runs, but have squandered 418, giving them a terrible -212 run differential for the season. The Oakland Athletics enter this contest with a losing record of four of their previous five games, including a recent series loss to the Miami Marlins. Oakland had a 5-1 lead over Miami after a five-run third inning, but was unable to hold on as the Fish mounted a six-run comeback in the following innings, dropping the game 5-7.
On Monday night, game 1 of the three-game series against the Pirates will be started by left-hander J.P. Sears for the Oakland Athletics. The southpaw starter has pitched 59.2 innings this season and is 0-3 with a 4.37 ERA, a solid 1.07 WHIP, 54 strikeouts, 53 hits, 11 free bases, and 13 home runs allowed. In his final start, Sears pitched six innings while allowing only one run, helping Oakland defeat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 at home.
In their previous 17 games, the Oakland Athletics are 2-15 SU, and in their last 7 games versus the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Athletics are 1-6 straight up. The Athletics are 6-3 straight up in their previous 9 games while playing the Pirates on the road, while Oakland is 0-10 SU in their last 10 away games. Six of Oakland’s past nine games against opponents from the National League Central Division saw the totals go over.
In the first game of a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics, the Pittsburgh Pirates will remain at home and aim for their sixth consecutive victory. After winning five straight games, Pittsburgh moved to 31-27 overall, 15-13 on the road after three straight wins there, and finished second in the NL Central, only a half-game behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. To far, the Pirates have scored 254 runs while giving up 244, for a run difference of +10 for the season. The Pittsburgh Pirates begin this three-game series with a huge five-game winning streak, which includes a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, with a total of 13 runs scored and nine runs allowed. On their route to a 2-1 victory on Sunday, the Pirates scored two runs in the first inning and totaled 10 hits in the process.
Oakland Athletics vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 6/5/2023 Tips, Free Picks and Previews
On Monday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ management will hand right-handed pitcher Johan Oviedo the ball to begin the series against the Oakland Athletics. The 25-year-old right-handed starter has a record of 3-4 on the year, a 4.50 ERA, a respectable 1.55 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts while giving up 60 hits, 30 bases on balls, and 5 home runs in 58.0 frames of work throughout his outings thus far. Oviedo allowed five earned runs in his past three outings, helping the Pirates to two of the three victories. On May 30, the right-hander made a start against the San Francisco Giants and won 2-1, allowing only one earned run over 4.10 innings while striking out five opponents and maintaining a 1.85 WHIP.
In four of Pittsburgh’s previous six games played against Oakland, the totals went over, and the Pirates are 5-0 SU in their last five games. In 4 of Pittsburgh’s past 5 home games, the totals were under, and in their last 9 home games versus the Athletics, the Pirates have gone 3-6 straight up. In their previous 5 games against an American League opponent, the Pittsburgh Pirates are 1-4 SU.
Oakland Athletics vs. Pittsburgh Pirates. The MLB Pick for this contest is the Pittsburgh Pirates. With home-field advantage on Monday night, the Pirates will easily defeat the Athletics, the poorest club in the league. Oakland was 30th in OPS and 30th in runs scored after 61 games, while Pittsburgh was 12th in OPS and 20th in runs scored. After winning five straight games, bet for the Pirates to gain momentum and seize control of this game. It’s expected that the Pittsburgh Pirates will triumph 5-3.
MLB Starting Time: 7:05 PM ET
Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date: Monday, June 5, 2023
TV: MLBN
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh Pirates -191
MLB Totals: 8.0