MLB Picks: Phillies vs. Athletics 6/16/23

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Oakland Athletics
Date: Friday, June 16th, 9:40 ET
Location: Oakland Coliseum
TV: NSPCA
Money Line: Phillies -149/Athletics +126
Total Line: 8.5

Betting Preview

Here’s our betting preview for the upcoming MLB clash between the Oakland Athletics and the Phillies on Friday, June 16th at Oakland Coliseum. We provide you with a comprehensive analysis, odds, and predictions to help with your handicapping decision or tail our expert based on the projected lineups and listed starting pitchers.

Betting Odds

Phillies vs. Athletics Projected Lineup

	Batting Order	Position
Kyle Schwarber	1	LF
Nick Castellanos	2	RF
Bryce Harper	3	DH
Trea Turner	4	SS
J.T. Realmuto	5	C
Bryson Stott	6	2B
Alec Bohm	7	3B
Brandon Marsh	8	CF
Edmundo Sosa	9	SS
Taijuan Walker	–	SP




	Batting Order	Position
Esteury Ruiz	1	LF
Ryan Noda	2	1B
Brent Rooker	3	LF
Seth Brown	4	LF
Shea Langeliers	5	C
JJ Bleday	6	RF
Tony Kemp	7	2B
Jace Peterson	8	3B
Kevin Smith	9	SS
JP Sears	–	RP




Straight Up/Over-Under/ Runline Record

Philadelphia Phillies: 35-34 SU / OU 29-34 / Runline 29-40
Oakland Athletics: 19-52 SU / OU 37-31 / Runline 31-40

On a record of 35-34, the Phillies are 3rd in the NL East. Currently, they are eight games out of the division lead. Against the Athletics, they will be seeking their 4th straight win. On the road, they have a record of 16-23 while going 19-11 at home. Philadelphia’s overall series record is 12-8-2.

• The Phillies have covered the runline in 42.0% of their games and have an average run margin of -0.3
• The Phillies have been favored in 59.4% of their games and have runline records of 12-18 and 17-22 at home and on the road, respectively
• So far, the Phillies have an over/under record of just 29-34.

If the Athletics are going to climb out of last place in the AL West, they will need to turn things around with a win over the Phillies. Heading into the game, the Athletics have lost two straight games and stand with an overall record of 19-52. On the road, the Athletics are 10-26 and 9-26 at home. The team’s overall series record is 4-17.

• The Athletics have covered the runline in 43.7% of their games and have an average run margin of -2.8
• The Athletics have been favored in 1.4% of their games and have runline records of 15-20 and 16-20 at home and on the road, respectively
• The over has hit in 54% of the Athletics’ 71 games at 37-31.

Pitching Matchup

Philadelphia will be counting on another good start from Taijuan Walker, as he has picked up a win in two straight games. Walker comes in with an ERA of 4.67 and a record of 6-3. For the season, he has racked up 58 strikeouts and has a batting average allowed of .234. Opponents have a slugging percentage of .395 vs. Walker.

Philadelphia is hoping that Taijuan Walker can help guide them to another win, as they defeated the Dodgers (7-3) the last time he pitched. He finished the game with zero earned runs on two hits across five innings.

Oakland will give the starting nod to JP Sears, entering with a record of 1-3. Sears is on a six-game streak of finishing with fewer than three earned runs allowed. So far, his ERA is 4.15, including a FIP figure of 5.02. Overall, opponents have a slugging percentage of .439 against him. Sears’ strikeout total currently sits at 65.

The Athletics picked up a win the last time JP Sears took the mound, taking down the Brewers by a score of 8-6. In five innings of work, he allowed six hits and two earned runs while adding a W to his record.

Phillies vs. Athletics Offense Outlook

The Phillies have played 70 games so far this season and are currently ranked 15th in the league with an average of 4.5 runs per game. In terms of home run hitting, Philadelphia is 15th, having hit the ball out of the park 74 times. Their overall batting average is .260, including .254 on the road and .242 at home.

Philadelphia Phillies Top Hitters vs. Lefties

Philadelphia Phillies Top Hitters: Last Five Games

With 71 games under their belt, the Athletics are currently 26th in the league, averaging 3.6 runs per game. Oakland’s home run ranking is 17th, with the team having hit 66 long balls. The team’s batting average, including .230 on the road and .201 at home, is .223.

Oakland Athletics Team Hitting Stats

Oakland Athletics Top Hitters: Last Five Games

Free MLB Pick

The Oakland Athletics were on an impressive winning streak of seven games before their momentum was halted by the Tampa Bay Rays. In the opening game of their series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Athletics will face Taijuan Walker on the mound. It’s worth noting that Walker’s performance has been significantly better in day games compared to night games. This season, he holds a 3-1 record with a 3.38 earned run average (ERA) in day games, compared to a 5.79 ERA at night. Similarly, in the previous season, his day game ERA stood at 1.63, while his night game ERA was 5.04.

On the other side, the Athletics will start left-handed pitcher JP Sears, who holds a 1-3 record on the season with a 4.15 ERA over 13 starts. However, Sears has shown improvement recently, allowing two or fewer earned runs in each of his last six starts. Additionally, the Phillies have struggled against left-handed pitchers, averaging nearly 1.5 fewer runs per nine innings against them.

Considering these factors, my analysis leads me to favor the Oakland Athletics in this matchup. They have the statistically better starter on paper, the advantage of playing at home, and a recent track record of winning seven out of their last nine games. Furthermore, the fact that we can bet on the Athletics at plus money (+122) provides additional value. Bet your baseball wagers for FREE this weekend by scoring a 50% real cash bonus on your first deposit of $50 to $500 at Bovada Sportsbook! This bookie is the BEST! Their live betting platform is head and shoulders above the rest and they’ve got a massive wagering menu, unlike any other sportsbook! It’s where we play!