Free MLB Picks Today: Oakland Athletics vs Atlanta Braves 5/29/23

The Atlanta Braves (32-21) take one of the highest-scoring offenses in MLB on the road to face the Oakland Athletics (10-45) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Monday for the opener of a three-game Interleague series. The Braves are playing their first of seven games on the road after closing out a 10-game homestand (5-5).

They split their last series against the Phillies, taking the finale 11-4 on Sunday at Truist Park. Matt Olson was 3 for 5 with two home runs and four RBIs. Ronald Acuna Jr. went 4 for 5 with a triple, two runs, and three RBIs.

The Athletics are in the midst of a seven-game homestand. They are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Astros, dropping the finale 10-1 on Sunday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for their 11th straight loss. Ryan Noda went 2 for 3 with a solo home run and a double.

The teams are meeting for the first time this season. Last season, the Braves won all four games between the teams, including a sweep in their most recent two-game series at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in September.

ON THE MOUND

Michael Soroka is in line for the start for Atlanta, his season debut.For Oakland, righty Paul Blackburn will toe the rubber, his season debut. He was 7-6 over 21 starts last season with an ERA of 4.28. He struck out 89 and walked 30 over 111.1 innings.

AT THE PLATE

The Atlanta offense is averaging 5.2 runs per game for the season, fourth best in the league, with a slash line of .260/.333/.466. Acuna Jr. leads the team in OPS at .959. The right fielder is slashing .323/.406/.553 with 11 home runs, 30 RBIs, and 48 runs over 53 games.

Against right-handed pitchers like Blackburn this season, the Braves have a .734 OPS. Olson is the team’s strongest hitter against right-handers with a 1.030 OPS in 142 at-bats. Oakland is slashing .220/.298/.359 for the season and averaging 3.4 runs per game, lowest in MLB.

Brent Rooker leads the team with an .876 OPS. The left fielder has 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 23 runs scored with a slash line of .261/.367/.509. Oakland is averaging only 1.8 runs per game in the last five with their slash line falling across the board (.173/.228/.276).

The A’s have a .627 OPS against right-handers in 2023, lowest in MLB. With a .860 OPS over 125 at-bats, Noda has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Atlanta is 17-7 away from Truist Park in 2023, scoring 5.7 runs per game while allowing 3.1 runs. Oakland has lost four in a row at their home park.

The A’s are 5-23 at home this season, averaging 3.1 runs per game while surrendering 6.8. In eight games between the teams at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Atlanta is 7-1 with an average scoreline of 5.8-3.9.