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The Oakland A's and Philadelphia Phillies are set to get their 2022 MLB seasons underway on Friday. With the new season finally here, even after time at which it looked like it would never arrive, fans are eager to catch the action in one of the first inter-league series' of the year. The Phillies will play host to the Athletics at Citizens Bank Park, and both teams will be looking to get their season started on a high note. We're back with our MLB odds series, where we will share our A's-Phillies prediction and pick.
The Athletics certainly don't have high expectations heading into the 2022 season. After offloading virtually all of their star power, the A's are in clear rebuild mode. But that doesn't mean they can't steal a game away from the Phillies to start the year. With the likes of Sean Manaea, Matt Olson, and Matt Chapman all being dealt away this offseason, the A's will look like a brand new ball club. They will however have a familiar face in Frankie Montas toeing the rubber for their season-opener.
The Phillies, on the other hand, loaded up in the offseason in hopes of bringing home a championship. Philadelphia signed sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos in free agency. Both should make immediate impacts as they compete for the NL East crown. After an 82-80 season last year, the Phillies have surrounded reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper with even more talent, and they'll look to make a push toward a deep postseason run this year. On the mound for the Phils will be ace Zack Wheeler, who is coming off a stellar 2021 season that saw him finish as runner-up for NL Cy Young.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the A's-Phillies MLB odds.
MLB Odds A's-Phillies Odds
Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 (+114)
Oakland Athletics -1.5 (-137)
Over: 8 (-115)
Under: 8 (-105)
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Why the A's Could Cover the Spread
While the Phillies are the clear favorites in this game on their home diamond, they'll face a tough task against Montas. Last year, Montas recorded a 13-9 record with a 3.37 ERA, 207 strikeouts, and a 1.18 WHIP across 32 starts and 187 innings. His strong 2021 campaign earned him his rightful place on the mound to start the year for Oakland. If Montas has a strong outing on the mound and limits the amount of damage done by the Phillies' lineup, it'll be difficult for Philadelphia to put up enough runs to cover the spread. The A's will likely struggle offensively, but that doesn't mean they can't keep the game close.
Why the Phillies Could Cover the Spread
The Phillies are favorites to win this game, and if their offense is able to get after Frankie Montas then they should have no issue covering the line. With Wheeler on the mound, the Phils have to feel confident in the matchup against what, on paper, appears to be a weak Athletics lineup. The most experienced hitters on the A's roster are Jed Lowrie and Elvis Andrus, neither of whom set off alarm bells for opposing pitchers. The Phillies have the clear best two players in this game in Wheeler and Harper, and if those guys can perform up to the high expectations fans have for them, the Phils should be cruising to the finish line in this one.
Final A's-Phillies Prediction & Pick
While Opening Day can certainly be a crapshoot in terms of predictable outcomes, we're expecting the Phillies' star power to lead them to a win over the Athletics. Zack Wheeler and Bryce Harper should set the tone for Philly in their season-opener and help them earn a win, and cover the spread.
Final A's-Phillies Pick: Phillies -1.5 (+114)
