Oakland A’s vs. Chicago Cubs Pick 8/5/19

Oakland A’s (64-48) vs. Chicago Cubs (60-51), 8/5/19
Time: 8:05 pm ET Monday, Aug. 5
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Listed Pitchers: Chris Bassitt (7-5, 3.84) vs. Kyle Hendricks (8-8, 3.07)
TV: ESPN, NBCS California, WGN

Moneyline: Cubs -150/A’s +140
Over/Under: NA

Playoff contenders clash when the Cubs and A’s begin a three-game interleague series at the Friendly Confines Monday night. Chicago just pulled off a sweep of rival Milwaukee over the weekend, while Oakland just swept a short set with St. Louis. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?

MLB Betting Odds

Monday’s MLB betting odds opened Chicago at around -155 over Oakland, while holding off on posting an over/under, as they often do with Cubs home games. Early betting action then dipped the line to -150.

A’s vs. Cubs Set-Up

Oakland just swept two games at home from St. Louis over the weekend, winning 8-3 Saturday and 4-2 Sunday. Just before that the A’s took two of three games at home from Milwaukee, and just before that they won the last two games of a four-game set with Texas. So Oakland is 6-1 over its last seven games.

At 64-48 overall the A’s trail division-leading Houston by 8.5 games in the AL West, but they’re also just a half-game back of Tampa Bay in the battle for the second American League wild-card spot.

Chicago, meanwhile, just swept three games at home from the Brewers by scores of 6-2, 4-1 and 7-2. Prior to that, though, the Cubs lost three series in a row. So Chicago’s only 6-7 over its last 13 games.

Still, at 60-51 overall the Cubs lead the NL Central by a game and a half over the second-place Cardinals.

This series is the first meeting between these teams since 2016, when Chicago, on its way toward that World Series championship, swept a three-game series out in Oakland.

Monday’s Starting Arms

Hendricks, by our strict standards, is 10/20 on quality starts this season and three for his last four. Last Tuesday he scattered seven hits over seven scoreless innings against St. Louis in a 2-0 Chicago win. And over his last four starts, he’s allowed just four runs and 17 hits through 25 innings.

On the season the Cubs are 9-11 with Hendricks, and while they’re just 1-6 over his last seven outings, that’s nowhere near his fault. He’s been getting some poor run support lately.

This start will be Hendricks’ first start against the A’s since 2016, and that’s already a long time ago.

Bassitt is only 5/18 on QS this year but two for his last four. Last Monday he held Milwaukee scoreless on three hits through six innings of a 3-2 Oakland victory. And over his last four starts, he’s allowed seven runs -six earned – and 17 hits through 23 innings.

The A’s are 10-8 with Bassitt this season, 3-1 over his last four starts.

This start will be Bassitt’s first-ever against the Cubbies

Monday’s Batting Splits

Oakland is batting .239/.320/.425 against right-handed pitching this season.

Chicago is batting .257/.335/.455 against RH pitching this season.

The Bullpens

The A’s bullpen owns a 3.97 ERA this season and a 1.30 WHIP while allowing a .703 OPS.

The Cubs pen owns a 4.13 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP while allowing a .738 OPS.

Totals Report

• Unders are 60-52 in A’s games this season.
• Unders are 58-50 in Cubs games this season.
• Unders are 32-23 in games played at Wrigley Field this season.
• Unders are 15-5 with Hendricks this season.

Free MLB Pick

Chicago owns the edge in the pitching match-up and with the sticks while Oakland owns the advantage in the bullpen comparison. But the Cubs’ edges don’t warrant a line so high. We see nice betting value here with the A’s, a team that’s 16 games over .500, getting the underdog price.