Oakland Athletics vs St. Louis Cardinals Prediction, 8/16/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Oakland Athletics vs St. Louis Cardinals

Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Location: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Odds/Point Spread: Oakland (+154) St. Louis (-185)

The St. Louis Cardinals (52-66) host the Oakland Athletics (33-85) at Busch Stadium on Wednesday. The moneyline on this contest has the Athletics at +154 while the Cardinals are at -185. The total is set at 9.5. The starting pitchers are Paul Blackburn and Matthew Liberatore.

As a team, the Oakland Athletics are earning 3.6 runs per outing, which ranks them 30th in MLB. They have 420 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .300. The Athletics have compiled 161 doubles as a team and have smacked 116 balls out of the park. They have 405 runs batted in and 860 base knocks over the course of the season, while their team batting average comes in at .222. Oakland has a slugging percentage of .363 and have struck out 1,076 times, while drawing a walk on 383 occasions.

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The Athletics have compiled a team ERA of 5.78 this year (30th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 948 hitters. Athletics pitchers have allowed 159 home runs in addition to 704 total runs (30th in MLB). They have walked 503 opposing players and their FIP sits at 5.11 as a squad on the campaign. Oakland has surrendered 1,085 base hits (9.4 per 9 innings) as well as 664 earned runs. They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 1.88 and the pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.54.

The Athletics relievers have a save percentage of 47.6% and has stepped onto the mound in 83 save situations. The relievers have inherited 232 runners over the course of the season with 39.2% of those runners earned a run for their team. Athletics bullpen pitchers have entered the game with runners on 146 times and also have had 139 appearances in high leverage situations. The Athletics have dispatched 396 relief pitchers to the mound on the campaign. The relievers have a total of 39 holds this season (30th in the league). They have recorded 20 saves over the course of the season and have blown 22 of their 42 save opportunities.

The Oakland Athletics have 3,104 putouts on the year, in addition to 928 assists and 71 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .983 which ranks 28th in baseball, and have a total of 81 double plays. The Athletics have transformed 67.6% of balls hit into play into outs in their 9,312 innings on the field, ranking them 28th in MLB.

Blackburn has pitched in 315 innings and is sitting with 232 strikeouts in his pro baseball career. Blackburn (15-20 career win-loss record) sits with a FIP of 4.32 while going up against 1,367 hitters during his time in the majors. His earned run average is 4.97 (174 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.419. He has given up 354 base hits (10.1 hits per 9 innings) with 93 free passes.

The St. Louis Cardinals have accounted for an OBP of .331 as well as a team batting average of .258 this season. They have been called out on strikes on 966 instances (22nd in baseball) and have accounted for 1,042 base hits. St. Louis has accounted for 165 long balls on the season to go along with 532 RBIs. The Cardinals have a team slugging percentage of .434 and they have an average of 4.67 runs per game (11th in the league). They have 196 doubles, while getting a free base 401 times and putting up 551 runs.

The Cardinals have a team WHIP of 1.434 with a FIP of 4.15 as a squad for the season. Their K/BB ratio sits at 8.10 (934 strikeouts against 380 walks). They come in at 29th in baseball as a staff in total hits relinquished with 1,111. They have given up 115 long balls and they give up 5.01 runs per 9 innings (25th in MLB). The St. Louis pitching staff have allowed 579 runs on the season while holding a team ERA of 4.55 (526 earned runs relinquished).

St. Louis has had relief pitchers step onto the hill in 51 save opportunities and they have walked away with 27 saves. They are currently ranked 27th in the league with a save percentage of 52.9%, and they have sent 351 relievers to the mound on the season. Their relievers have come in 129 times in high leverage situations in addition to 127 occasions with base runners. St. Louis relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 29.8% out of 208 inherited base runners. With 111 save situations, the Cardinals have tallied 60 holds in addition to 24 blown saves.

Out of their 9,363 innings on the field, the Cardinals have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 66.7% (30th in pro baseball). The St. Louis Cardinals have gotten 106 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .990 (2nd in the majors). The Cardinals have accrued 1,134 assists, 44 errors and have earned 3,121 putouts over the course of the season.

During his MLB career, Liberatore has surrendered 93 hits and he has 58 K's in 80 frames. He has allowed 52 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.606 and a FIP of 4.8. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.61 and he has faced 369 hitters so far in his pro baseball career. Liberatore (4-6 career mark) has earned a 5.83 earned run average and has given up 10.4 hits per 9 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Oakland (+154)

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