It's time to continue our MLB odds series with a Dodgers-Athletics prediction and pick. Find out how to watch Dodgers-Athletics.
The Los Angeles Dodgers need to get healthy in a literal sense. They need Mookie Betts and Max Muncy to come back and give this team the full offensive collection it needs to be at its best. With the Dodgers' starters being hurt and the bullpen being overworked, we have seen how fragile this team can be. The Dodgers have blown three five-run leads over the past three weeks of play, the most recent instance being a 6-5 loss to the San Diego Padres. Los Angeles led 5-0 early but then couldn't protect the lead. The Padres swept the Dodgers this week and have crept closer in the National League West. If the Dodgers continue to struggle, they might have to fight for a division which seemed to be theirs throughout the first 100 games of the season.
Therefore, the Dodgers need to get healthy in a metaphorical sense. They need to get healthy against the lowly A's, who are talented and spunky but are simply not as good. If the Dodgers can sweep Oakland, they can feel they will have restored order. If they lose this series, however, it might be time to really worry about this L.A. team.
Dodgers-Athletics Projected Starters
Gavin Stone vs. Joey Estes
Gavin Stone (9-4) has a 3.34 ERA. Where would the injury-laden Dodgers be without Gavin Stone to give them 5 1/3 innings of low-run baseball and put this team in position to win a bunch of games? Stone is one of a few unheralded pitchers who have quietly stepped up in a year when Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, and other Dodger starters have been unavailable for varying lengths of time. The Dodgers' injuries have not been limited to the pitching staff, either. Mookie Betts and Max Muncy, two core players Los Angeles absolutely needs to have on the field, have missed a lot of combined games, meaning that the team hasn't had its full offensive arsenal available for several dozens of games this year. Stone and other pitchers have stepped up in a very big way to keep this team in position to play postseason baseball in 2024.
Last Start: Friday, July 26 vs the Houston Astros: 6 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 2 HR, 2 BB, 3 K
2024 Road Splits: 9 starts, 52 2/3 IP, 50 H, 19 R, 5 HR, 14 BB, 42 K
Joey Estes (4-4) has a 4.92 ERA. It will be interesting to see how Estes responds after his truncated start last week against the Angels, in which he left in the third inning. Pitching on a Friday, he is performing on extended rest, so the A's are clearly aware of the need to exhibit some degree of caution with him. They don't want to overwork him. Now he faces the Dodgers, who are coming off a pair of losses and are not happy as they come to Oakland.
Last Start: Friday, July 26 vs the Los Angeles Angels: 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 HR, 2 BB, 0 K
2024 Home Splits: 8 starts, 37 1/3 IP, 44 H, 32 R, 7 HR, 15 BB, 33 K
Here are the Dodgers-Athletics MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
MLB Odds: Dodgers-Athletics Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers: -1.5 (-102)
Moneyline: -164
Oakland Athletics: +1.5 (-118)
Moneyline: +138
Over: 8.5 (-106)
Under: 8.5 (-114)
How to Watch Dodgers vs Athletics
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET/6:40 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA (Dodgers) / NBC Sports California (Athletics) / MLB Network
Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)
Why The Dodgers Will Cover The Spread/Win
The Dodgers really need to win. They're coming off some brutal losses. Their division lead is shrinking. They're a lot better than the A's. They have the clearly superior starting pitcher. They have Shohei Ohtani. Other than that, we're struggling to find reasons to pick the Dodgers.
Why The Athletics Will Cover The Spread/Win
The A's are getting the Dodgers at the right time. Los Angeles is doubting itself and has a pitching staff in disarray. If Oakland can get an early lead, Dodger hitters might press and get anxious, and that could snowball in Oakland's favor.
Final Dodgers-Athletics Prediction & Pick
Don't overthink this. The Dodgers are in need-to-win mode against an inferior opponent. Gavin Stone has been really good for them, and Joey Estes is a question mark for the A's. Take Los Angeles.
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Final Dodgers-Athletics Prediction & Pick: Dodgers -1.5
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