Free MLB Picks Today: Oakland Athletics vs Chicago White Sox 7/1/23

The strikeout-prone Oakland Athletics (22-62) are in for a challenge at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Saturday against the Chicago White Sox (36-48) and Dylan Cease, owner of one of this season’s best K/9 rates.

The Athletics took Friday’s series opener 7-4. Starter Luis Medina went five innings for the win, allowing one run on four hits, and Trevor May pitched 1.1 innings to earn his fifth save.

Aledmys Diaz went 2 for 4 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI in the win. Tony Kemp added a triple, one run, and one RBI. Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 4 with two doubles, one run, and two RBIs for the White Sox. Andrew Vaughn went 3 for 5 with a double and one run.

ON THE MOUND

Cease (3-3, 4.04 ERA) is slated for the start for Chicago. The righty allowed one run over six innings in his last start, a 2-1 road defeat against the Angels on Monday.

He gave up five hits while striking out 10 in the no-decision. Cease is making his first appearance against the Athletics this season. Over two starts against the Athletics in 2022, Cease was 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA over 12 innings. He had 16 strikeouts and three walks.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Chicago has averaged 5.4 runs a game, up from their season average of 4.1, while performing better across the board (.267/.333/.433). Oakland is averaging only 2.8 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 3.5 for the season.

The A’s have a .637 OPS against right-handers in 2023, the lowest in the league. With a .791 OPS over 204 at-bats, Ryan Noda has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Chicago is 16-28 on the road in 2023, scoring 4.2 runs per game while allowing 4.8 runs. Oakland has gone 11-31 at their home park this season, averaging 3.1 runs per game while surrendering 5.9.

Oakland is 6-4 in the last 10 meetings at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum despite an average scoreline favoring Chicago (5.1-4.6).

STANDINGS UPDATE

The White Sox are fourth in the AL Central, five games behind the division-leading Twins. The Athletics are fifth in the AL West, 28 games behind the Rangers.