Free MLB Picks Today: Oakland Athletics vs Chicago White Sox 9/8/22

Dylan Cease is set to take the mound looking to continue his excellent season for the Chicago White Sox (69-68) as they travel to face the Oakland Athletics (50-87) and their low-scoring lineup at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Thursday for the first of a four-game series. The White Sox are in the midst of a seven-game road trip. They won two out of three in their last series against the Mariners, taking the finale 9-6 on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park. Eloy Jimenez was 3 for 4 with a home run and a double. He scored two runs and drove in three. The Athletics are in the midst of a six-game homestand. They are coming off a two-game sweep at the hands of the Braves, dropping the finale 7-3 on Wednesday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Stephen Vogt went 2 for 3 with a double and one RBI.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The White Sox have won two of three in the season series between the teams, including a 4-1 victory in their most recent meeting on July 31 at Guaranteed Rate Field. Cease got the win, allowing one run on four hits over six innings and striking out seven, and Liam Hendriks earned his 20th save with a scoreless ninth.

ON THE MOUND

Cease (13-6, 2.13 ERA) is set to take the mound for Chicago. The right-hander ranks second in the AL in ERA and strikeouts (197), and is tied for third in wins. Cease had a complete game shutout in his last start in a 13-0 road victory over the Twins on Saturday. He allowed only one hit, striking out seven and walking two en route to the win. Cease has made one previous start against the Athletics this season, a 4-1 home victory on July 31. He surrendered one run on four hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking one. Left-hander JP Sears (5-1, 2.37 ERA) gets the start for Oakland. It’s his first appearance of the season against the White Sox. In his last start on Friday, Sears took a no-decision on the road against the Orioles. He threw six innings and gave up two runs on six hits, striking out five and walking one in the 5-2 loss.

AT THE PLATE

The Chicago offense is averaging 4.2 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .260/.316/.387. Jose Abreu leads the team in OPS at .837. The first baseman is slashing .309/.384/.453 with 14 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 75 runs over 135 games. Against southpaws like Sears this season, the Sox have a .771 OPS. Abreu also is the team’s strongest hitter against left-handers with a .856 OPS in 95 at-bats. Oakland is slashing .217/.281/.346 for the season and averaging 3.4 runs per game, second lowest in the league. Sean Murphy leads the team with a .779 OPS. The catcher has 18 home runs, 62 RBIs, and 58 runs scored with a slash line of .254/.333/.445. 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

Chicago is 35-32 in away games in 2022, scoring 4.2 runs per game while allowing 3.7 runs. Oakland has gone 22-46 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum this season, averaging 2.9 runs per game while surrendering 4.8. In the last 10 meetings at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland is 8-2 with an average scoreline of 5.6-3.5.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The White Sox are third in the AL Central, three games behind the division-leading Guardians. They are sixth in the Wild Card race, seven games out of third. The Athletics are fifth in the AL West, 37 games behind the Astros.