Philadelphia Phillies vs
Oakland AthleticsPredictions & Preview

Philadelphia Phillies Favored to Win Opener Against Oakland Athletics in 2025 MLB Season Preview

The preview for the 2025 MLB season game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Oakland Athletics at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California on Friday, May 23 is analyzed in detail. The Phillies are heavily favored to win the opener of the three-game series, with Zack Wheeler expected to start as pitcher. Wheeler has been in excellent form this season, with an ERA of 2.67. Jeffrey Springs is the probable starting pitcher for the Athletics, with an ERA of 3.91. The first pitch is scheduled for 10:05 PM ET. The Phillies are the favorites according to betting odds, opening at -177 and currently at -210. For more information on this game and other MLB picks for Friday's slate, continue reading.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Phillies -210 | Athletics +183
• Spread: Phillies -1.5 (-125) | Athletics +1.5 (+110)
• Total: Over/Under 9.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Philadelphia will win straight-up is 68%.

Philadelphia vs Oakland Stats

Philadelphia Phillies

Before Thursday's game, the Philadelphia Phillies were aiming to sweep a four-game series at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. They were looking for their seventh straight win and had been performing well offensively, scoring 39 runs in their previous six games. However, their bullpen has been struggling recently. Zack Wheeler was set to start on Friday with an impressive record this season. Overall, the Phillies have a power ranking of 6, ranking 6th in offense and 14th in defense. They have a record of 32-18 this season.

Oakland Athletics Analysis

The Oakland Athletics faced the Los Angeles Angels in hopes of ending an eight-game losing streak and avoiding a sweep. The Athletics have struggled on both pitching and offense, with the bullpen posting poor stats and the team batting below average. Pitcher Jeffrey Springs has been a bright spot with a solid performance in recent starts. The Athletics have a power ranking of 28 and are ranked 14th for offense and 28th for defense. The Philadelphia Phillies have had a recent winning record against Oakland.

Phillies' Dominant Offense Faces Off Against A's Pitcher Jeffrey Springs

Jeffrey Springs has performed admirably in his recent four starts; however, he faces a challenging matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies, who have excelled against left-handed pitchers with a .969 OPS and 170 wRC+ in their last 174 plate appearances. The Oakland Athletics are likely to have difficulty scoring against Zack Wheeler, who ranks in the 98th percentile for expected ERA, 95th percentile for expected batting average, and 84th percentile for hard-hit percentage. Given these statistics, my recommendation for this game would be to take the Philadelphia Phillies at the runline.

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