Oakland Athletics vs Chicago White Sox Prediction, 8/17/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Oakland Athletics vs Chicago White Sox

Date: Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Location: Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, IL

TV: NBC Sports Chicago

Odds/Point Spread: Oakland (+100) Chicago (-125)

Chris Bassitt and the Oakland Athletics (68-50, 2nd in AL West) travel to Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday where they'll meet the Chicago White Sox (68-50, 1st in AL Central). The Athletics open this game at +100 while the White Sox are coming in at -125. The total has been set at 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Chris Bassitt and Reynaldo Lopez.

Oakland is slugging .411 and have struck out 1,003 times, while being walked on 403 occasions. They have accrued 509 runs batted in in addition to 932 base knocks this season, and their team batting average comes in at .238. The Athletics have compiled 200 doubles as a team and have hit 150 baseballs out of the park. They have earned 542 runs while having a team OBP of .318. As a team, the Oakland Athletics are scoring 4.6 runs per game, which ranks them 13th in baseball.

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Athletics pitchers have allowed 122 long balls and 460 runs in total (5th in MLB). Their pitching staff has walked 314 batters and their FIP sits at 3.84 as a unit this season. They have a K/BB ratio of 3.12 and the pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.20. The Athletics have a team earned run average of 3.64 for the season (5th in the league), and the staff has rung up 980 batters.

Athletics relief pitchers have gone to the mound with opponents on base 90 times and also have had 100 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have 48 holds so far this season (24th in baseball). The Athletics relievers have earned a save percentage of 63.0% and has stepped onto the mound in 94 save situations. They have compiled 29 saves for the season and have blown 17 out of their 46 save opportunities. The relievers have inherited 125 runners for the season and 35.2% of them crossed home plate. The Athletics have dispatched 353 relievers to the hill this year.

The Oakland Athletics have amassed 3,146 putouts so far this season, in addition to 948 assists and 52 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .987 which puts them in 2nd in baseball, and they have turned 800 double plays. The Athletics have turned 70.5% of balls hit into play into outs in their 9,438 innings on the field, which ranks them 6th in pro baseball.

Bassitt (31-24 career win-loss mark) is the owner of a FIP of 3.88 and he has gone up against 2,313 hitters in the majors. He has given up 488 hits (8.0 hits per nine innings) with 175 free passes. His earned run average is 3.45 (210 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.209. Bassitt has taken the mound for 548 innings and has accumulated 498 strikeouts during his pro baseball career.

The Chicago White Sox have recorded an on-base percentage of .332 as well as a team batting average of .250 for the year. They have been called out on strikes on 1,037 occasions (14th in baseball) and have a total of 967 base knocks. Chicago has 140 HRs over the course of the season and 554 RBIs. The White Sox hold a team slugging percentage of .419 and they are earning 4.96 runs per outing (7th in baseball). They have put up 196 doubles, while getting a free base 436 times as well as scoring 585 runs.

The Chicago pitching staff have allowed 459 runs so far this year while holding a team ERA of 3.65 (414 earned runs conceded). They have given up 143 HR's and they give up 4.05 runs per 9 innings (6th in the league). The White Sox have a team WHIP of 1.191 in addition to having a FIP of 3.84 as a pitching staff this year. Their K/BB ratio is 3.33 (1,181 strikeouts vs 355 walks). They are sitting at 3rd in MLB as a staff in total hits conceded with 861.

Chicago has called on relief pitchers to enter the game in 50 save opportunities and they have earned 29 saves. They rank 20th in MLB with a save rate of 58.0%, and they have dispatched 354 relievers to the hill for the year. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 113 times in high leverage situations and also on 97 occasions with runners on. Chicago bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 32.7% out of 153 inherited runners. Sitting with 116 save situations, the White Sox have accumulated 63 holds in addition to 21 blown saves.

The Chicago White Sox have twisted 72 double plays and have a fielding rate of .982 (27th in baseball). The White Sox have racked up 850 assists, 73 errors and have 3,064 putouts this season. Out of their 9,192 innings on the field, the White Sox hold a defensive efficiency of 69.9% (13th in MLB).

Lopez (27-34 win-loss record in his career) has a 4.64 earned run average while allowing 8.8 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.23 and he has faced 2,210 opposing batters so far in his MLB career. He has surrendered a total of 263 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.367 and a FIP of 4.9. In his pro baseball career, Lopez has allowed 502 base hits while earning 438 strikeouts in 510 innings.

Who will win tonight's baseball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Oakland (+100)

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