Last Updated on May 5, 2019 12:35 pm by dpatrick
Athletics vs. Pirates Prediction
The Oakland Athletics lost for the seventh time in eight games yesterday at the Pittsburgh Pirates. Will Oakland show it is turning a corner this afternoon by winning the finale of the three-game series?
Game Snapshot
929 Oakland Athletics at 930 Pittsburgh Pirates
Sunday, May 5, 2019
PNC Park at 1:35PM ET
TV: ATT SportsNet-PIT
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Athletics are a -113 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Pirates are a +103 underdog, while the total is set at 8 runs. As of Sunday morning, 51 percent of public bets are siding with visiting Oakland. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest updates.
A’s falter in seventh
Oakland allowed three seventh-inning runs Saturday night to lose its lead and eventually fall 6-4 at Pittsburgh. Matt Chapman helped pace the Pirates as he finished 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and two runs. Khris Davis ended the contest 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Kendrys Morales was 2-for-4 with a triple, a run and an RBI. J.B. Wendelken suffered the loss in relief as he gave up three earned runs on four hits with one strikeout and one walk over one inning. Frankie Montas will start today for the Athletics as he comes in with a 4-2 record, 2.97 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 30 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings.
Newman puts Pirates ahead for good
Kevin Newman hit a go-ahead two-run triple as part of a three-run seventh inning Saturday night as host Pittsburgh topped Oakland by a count of 6-4. It was Newman’s only at-bat of the game after previously entering as a pinch runner. Josh Bell paced the Pirates offense as he finished 2-for-4 with two home runs, a walk and three RBIs. Gregory Polanco was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Michael Feliz earned the win in relief as he struck out two and walked one in an inning of relief. Jordan Lyles will start today for the Pirates as he comes in with a 2-1 record, 2.42 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 26 innings.
MLB Betting Trends
Oakland
The Athletics are 1-8 in their last nine road games. Oakland is 0-4 in its last four Sunday games.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates are 22-6 in their last 28 interleague games. Pittsburgh is 3-9 in its last 12 games overall.
Prediction:
Pittsburgh has gotten a few fantastic starts out of Lyles this season, but his last two have been more indicative of who he is as a pitcher. The A’s are desperate to get something going and winning two out three in this series would be a strong step in that direction. Montas didn’t get help from his defense last start and should be able to bounce back with a better start here to put the A’s in position to win.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: OAKLAND ATHLETICS -113