Oakland Athletics vs
Chicago CubsPredictions & Preview

Athletics' Joey Estes to Face Cubs' Shota Imanaga in Series Opener at Wrigley Field, Cubs Favored at -190

The Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs will kick off a three-game series at Wrigley Field on Monday night, with Joey Estes starting for the Athletics and Shota Imanaga taking the mound for the Cubs. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:40 PM ET, with Chicago opening as the home favorite at -190. Despite the early betting line, no significant movement has occurred.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Athletics +167 | Cubs -190
• Spread: Athletics +1.5 (-137) | Cubs -1.5 (+112)
• Total: Over/Under 7.75 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 66%.

Oakland vs Chicago Stats

Oakland Athletics

Joey Estes will be starting the first game of the upcoming series against the Cubs. In his last outing against the Astros, he allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out two over 6.2 innings. Estes had a clean first inning but ran into trouble in the second, loading the bases before settling in and preventing the Astros from scoring again into the seventh inning. He has not given up more than four runs in his last 11 appearances and has pitched to a 4.36 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, with 88 strikeouts and 24 walks over 117.2 innings this season. Oakland, ranked 25th in power rankings, has been playing spoiler all season with a 65-84 record, showing improvement after a tough start to the year. They are ranked 26th in offense, averaging 4.04 runs per game, and 23rd in defense, allowing 4.67 runs per game.

Chicago Cubs Analysis

The Chicago Cubs will be starting Shota Imanaga in the upcoming series, who recently got a win against the Dodgers by pitching seven innings and allowing three runs. Despite giving up three solo home runs, he has been performing well with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. Imanaga has shown consistency in his starts and has not issued a walk in multiple games. The Cubs are currently three games above .500 and are 5.5 games behind the final wild card spot. Additionally, the Cubs have a power ranking of 1 and are ranked 13th in offense, scoring an average of 4.57 runs per game, and 10th in defense, giving up an average of 4.19 runs per game. In their last three matchups, Chicago has gone 0-3 against Oakland.

Joey Estes to Lead Athletics Pitching Rotation Against Cubs, Anticipates Victory

Joey Estes is set to lead the pitching rotation in the upcoming series against the Cubs. In his recent performance against the Astros, he demonstrated excellent control on the mound, allowing only three runs and securing a win for the team. Estes has maintained consistent performance in his last 11 appearances, with a maximum of four runs allowed. His current stats include a 4.36 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and an impressive 88:24 K:BB ratio over 117.2 innings. Based on his strong track record, I anticipate that the Athletics will capitalize on the opportunities presented by Imanaga's pitches and secure another upset victory. My prediction is for the Athletics to emerge victorious in this game.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]