Pittsburgh Pirates (14-15) vs. Oakland Athletics (12-17)
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Oakland Athletics 4/30/24 – As Major League Baseball pushes into another week of action, the Pittsburgh Pirates head west to face the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum on April 30, 2024. Both teams have had their struggles early in the season, with the Pirates just below .500 and the Athletics even further behind. As they prepare for this matchup, fans and bettors alike are looking for the best free MLB tips to gauge who might come out on top in this encounter.
The Pirates, showing an almost 50/50 record, are showing their strength, especially on away trips where their performance so far was better than at home. Even if the hitter manages to have a batting average of .238 and a solid .354 slugging percentage, while their pitching team has a good ERA of 3.71, there are still some moments that they are offensive and supportive. This equality saw them surviving most games and thus their outstanding road records this season could be their best bet now that they are heading to the Colosseum.
The comparative circumstance is there with the opposite case of the Oakland Athletics. The team’s batting average remains at record low .200, even though they have brought home more home runs than the Pirates, the respective on-base percentage and slugging numbers are not at the level they should be, and as a result, they’re having challenges to score. When opposing this team, their ERA of 4.06 and a WHIP of 1.31 shows that their pitching hasn’t been able to make up for the shortcomings of their offense which has placed them lower in the rankings.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Oakland Athletics 4/30/24 Game Info
| When: | Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 9:40 PM ET |
| Where: | Oakland Coliseum |
| TV: | TBD |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Mitch Keller (2-2, 5.14 ERA) vs. Alex Wood (1-2, 6.59 ERA)
Mitch Keller of the Pirates, even though he possesses a high Earned Run Average of 5.14 and a 1.49 WHIP, has the skills and control pitching 32 strikeouts in 35 innings. However, the issue of consistency bedevils him because the large number of hits allowed is suggestive of vulnerability in high pressure situations. To a great extent, his performance in this game is also going to be an important one, more so if he can be capable of handling the Athletics’ hitters well and avoid walks.
On the opposite mound, Alex Wood of the Athletics has had, perhaps, an even more difficult season. With an ERA of 6.59 Wood has been plagued by the lack of control and the number of hits allowed. This has nearly reached 2.00 WHIP. With over 25 strikeouts and 27.1 innings, we can see the glimpses of this strong ability, but the large number of runs and hits given up which may prove to be a major obstacle against the Pirates’ batting lineup.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: TBD, Total Odds: TBD
The betting odds are yet to be finalized, but given the teams’ performances and pitching matchups, bettors might lean towards a potentially higher-scoring game, considering the vulnerabilities of both starting pitchers.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends
The Pirates have indicated that they can keep their form from home by being 10-6 ATS in away matches. Their score could be higher in their recent games indicating their capability to cover spreads, thus giving them an advantage this time, particularly when Keller tries to set them on the right pitch.
Oakland Athletics Betting Trends
The Athletics’ issues have been showcased at both their home matches as well as on the road, and they have the same run as the Pirates of 9-6 for the spread in their away games. Although they were able to make some of their fans cheer at home, their capability to defy their current season’s performance metrics away from home cannot be confirmed.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Oakland Athletics 4/30/24 Betting Picks
In assessing both teams’ strengths and weaknesses, the Pirates appear to have a slight edge, particularly with their better road performance record. Their ability to hit and slightly better pitching stats might just tip the scales in their favor in this matchup.
In terms of Pro handicapper prediction, considering the struggling pitching on both sides and the Pirates’ better overall statistics, the better pick here seems to favor Pittsburgh. Prop bets might focus on total runs, potentially looking at the over, given the high ERAs of the starting pitchers. The potential for a high-scoring game could be a wise angle for savvy bettors.
Free Pick and Prediction: Pittsburgh Pirates 6, Oakland Athletics 4.