Free MLB Picks Today: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Oakland Athletics 6/5/23

The Oakland Athletics (12-49) take their lowest-scoring lineup in the league on the road to face the Pittsburgh Pirates (31-27) at PNC Park on Monday for the opener of a three-game Interleague series.

The Athletics are in the midst of a nine-game road trip. They were just swept in three games against the Marlins, dropping the finale 7-5 on Sunday at loanDepot Park for their fourth straight loss. Ramon Laureano was 2 for 4 with a double, one run, and two RBIs.

The Pirates are amid a nine-game homestand. They are coming off a three-game sweep of the Cardinals, taking the finale 2-1 on Sunday at PNC Park for their fifth straight win. Bryan Reynolds went 2 for 4 with one run.

The teams are meeting for the first time since May 5, 2019, when the Pirates finished off a 2-1 series win with a 5-3 extra innings victory at PNC Park.

ON THE MOUND

JP Sears (0-3, 4.37 ERA) is slated to get the start for Oakland. The southpaw allowed one run over six innings in his last start, a 2-1 road win over the Braves on Tuesday. He scattered four hits while striking out two and walking one in the no-decision.

Righty Johan Oviedo (3-4, 4.50 ERA) will toe the rubber for Pittsburgh. In his last start on Tuesday, Oviedo took a no-decision on the road against the Giants. He threw 4.1 innings and gave up one run on three hits, striking out five and walking five in the 2-1 victory.

AT THE PLATE

The Oakland offense is averaging 3.4 runs per game for the season, the lowest in MLB, with a slash line of .218/.298/.349. Brent Rooker leads the team in OPS at .866. The left fielder is slashing .260/.363/.503 with 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 24 runs over 52 games.

Over the last five games, though, Oakland has averaged only 2.0 runs a game while performing worse across the board (.173/.250/.212). Against righties like Oviedo this season, the A’s have a .622 OPS, the lowest in the league.

Ryan Noda is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .857 OPS in 133 at-bats. Pittsburgh is slashing .247/.324/.409 for the season and averaging 4.4 runs per game. Four Pirates hitters have an OPS of .800 or better, led by Jack Suwinski (.850).

The right fielder has 11 home runs, 29 RBIs, and 21 runs scored with a slash line of .235/.353/.497. The Bucs have a .755 OPS against lefties in 2023. With a 1.142 OPS over 60 at-bats, Rodolfo Castro has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Oakland is on a 14-game losing streak away from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, bringing their record to 5-25 in 2023. The A’s have scored 3.6 runs per game away from home while allowing 7.4 runs.

Pittsburgh has won three in a row at their home ballpark. The Bucs are 15-13 at home this season, averaging 4.0 runs per game while surrendering 4.6. Oakland is 6-3 in nine meetings at PNC Park with an average scoreline of 4.1-2.9.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Athletics are fifth in the AL West, 26 games behind the division-leading Rangers. The Pirates are second in the NL Central, zero games behind the Brewers.