Guardians vs Athletics Prediction MLB Picks Today 6/22
- Lm Tipster
- Jun 22, 2023, 1:04:15 AM
© David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Guardians vs Athletics:
The Cleveland Guardians face the Oakland Athletics on June 22, 2023, at Progressive Field. The Guardians are poised to emerge victorious in this contest, and in this article, we will examine the key factors contributing to this anticipated outcome.
Oakland Athletics: Team Overview
Pitching Analysis
JP Sears is set to start for the Athletics. The left-hander holds a 1-4 record with a 4.24 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 76.1 innings. Though his WHIP is relatively low, the amount of home runs conceded (17) is concerning.
Hitting Analysis
Brent Rooker leads the Athletics in home runs with 13, accompanied by a batting average of .250. The team's batting average sits at .222, which is subpar. Additionally, the team's on-base percentage is .303, and their slugging percentage is .352.
Injuries
Kevin Smith and Kirby Snead are on the injured list, and several others are day-to-day. This could limit the Athletics' options in the game.
Cleveland Guardians: Team Overview
Pitching Analysis
Logan Allen will be the starting pitcher for the Guardians. The left-hander has fared better than his counterpart, with a 3-2 record, a 3.95 ERA, and a 1.46 WHIP over 54.2 innings. Importantly, Allen has only conceded 6 home runs.
Hitting Analysis
Jose Ramirez is the standout batter for the Guardians, with 11 home runs, a .287 batting average, and 44 RBIs. The Guardians’ team batting average is .245, with an on-base percentage of .310 and a slugging percentage of .369.
Injuries
Justin Campbell is day-to-day, while Triston McKenzie and Cal Quantrill are on the injured list. However, these injuries are not expected to significantly impact the Guardians' performance in this game.
Prediction
Despite the Oakland Athletics’ lackluster record of 19-56, there are several factors that might contribute to them pulling off an upset against the Cleveland Guardians. Firstly, Logan Allen, the starting pitcher for the Guardians, has been struggling lately, as evidenced by his WHIP of 1.46, which suggests he’s allowing a significant number of baserunners. The Athletics could capitalize on this by being patient at the plate and looking to exploit any mistakes Allen makes. In addition, Oakland's power hitting, particularly from Brent Rooker who has 13 home runs this season, could be crucial. A well-timed long ball can alter the course of the game. Moreover, the Athletics are on a losing streak and this might be an extra motivator for them to break it. Sometimes, teams that are down can play with a sense of urgency and that could result in a better performance. Being the underdogs, the Athletics might also benefit from being underestimated by the Guardians. They could use this to their advantage by employing aggressive tactics such as stealing bases or utilizing hit-and-run plays. Finally, the Guardians have several players on the injured list, and this could potentially weaken their depth and affect their performance. In baseball, the outcome can be unpredictable, and the Athletics will need to play sharply and seize opportunities to achieve an upset.
Pick: Athletics +1.5
