Free MLB Picks Today: Oakland Athletics vs Atlanta Braves 9/7/22

Hot-hitting Michael Harris II will be looking to extend his 13-game hitting streak as the Atlanta Braves (-150) match up against the Oakland Athletics (+130) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Wednesday with the visitors eyeing a sweep of the two-game Interleague series. The early total has been set at 7 (O: -120 | U: +100).The Braves (85-51) took Tuesday’s series opener 10-9, their sixth straight victory overall and 10th in a row head-to-head, including all three games against the Athletics this season. Reliever Jesse Chavez threw 1.1 scoreless innings to get the win, and Kenley Jansen earned his 32nd save with a scoreless ninth. Vaughn Grissom was 4 for 5 with one run and two RBIs in the win. Chad Pinder went 2 for 2 with a home run and three RBIs for the Athletics (50-86).

ON THE MOUND

Spencer Strider (9-4, 2.67 ERA) is slated to get the start for Atlanta. The right-hander ranks fifth in the NL in strikeouts (174). Strider threw eight scoreless innings in his last start, a 3-0 road win over the Rockies on Thursday. He was credited with the win, giving up two hits while striking out 16.For Oakland, southpaw Ken Waldichuk (0-0, 1.93 ERA) will toe the rubber. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Braves. In his last start on Thursday, Waldichuk took a no-decision on the road against the Nationals. He threw 4.2 innings and gave up one run on five hits, striking out six and walking four in the 7-5 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Atlanta has averaged 6.0 runs a game, up from their season average of 5.0, while performing better across the board (.280/.363/.516). Against lefties like Waldichuk this season, the Braves have a .807 OPS, second highest in the league. Robbie Grossman has the team’s highest on-base percentage against left-handers at .463 over 120 at-bats. Oakland is averaging 4.4 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 3.4 for the season. The A’s have a .624 OPS against right-handers in 2022, second lowest in MLB. With a .766 OPS over 346 at-bats, Seth Brown has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Atlanta is 38-26 in away games in 2022, scoring 5.0 runs per game while allowing 4.0 runs. Oakland has gone 22-45 at their home ballpark this season, averaging 2.9 runs per game while surrendering 4.8. Atlanta is 6-1 in seven games between the teams at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with an average scoreline of 5.6-4.0.