Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago Cubs Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 18th 2024
Preview and Prediction
The Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics have one final opportunity to enhance their impressive interleague records as they wrap up a three-game series on Wednesday afternoon.
Despite two home runs from Ian Happ, the Cubs (77-74) suffered a costly 4-3 defeat in the second game of the series on Tuesday night. Oakland catcher Shea Langeliers matched Happ's performance with two long balls of his own.
The loss has put the Cubs six games behind in the race for the last National League wild-card spot with only 11 games remaining in the season.
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Chicago has been dominant in interleague play, boasting a 27-18 record against American League teams. Only the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves have more interleague wins than the Cubs.
Their .600 winning percentage in interleague games is significantly better than their overall record of .510.
The A's (66-86) have also performed well in interleague play, splitting the first two games of this series and holding a 23-22 record against NL teams. In contrast, they have struggled against American League opponents with a .402 winning percentage.
Along with the Tampa Bay Rays, the A's are one of only two teams in the majors with a winning record in interleague play but a losing record overall.
With just one more game against the A's and four against the struggling Washington Nationals, the Cubs cannot afford any missteps in their push for the playoffs. They are placing great importance on the series finale, with left-hander Justin Steele (5-5, 3.09 ERA) returning to the rotation after being on the injured list due to tendinitis in his left elbow.
Chicago manager Craig Counsell defended the decision to activate Steele, who last pitched on Aug. 27.
"If he's healthy, he's going to pitch," Counsell stated. "And all indications are that he is healthy."
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In his most recent outing, Steele gave up two runs in five innings to earn a 9-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was placed on the injured list five days later.
In his only appearance against the A's, Steele allowed just four hits and one earned run in six innings during a 12-2 road win on April 19, 2023.
A's manager Mark Kotsay discussed his team's reliance on home runs after Tuesday's win.
"The majority of our runs this year have come from home runs," Kotsay acknowledged. "In games where we hit more than one home run, we have a decent record.
"We don't preach hitting home runs. It's gratifying to see that these guys aren't focused on hitting home runs. They're focused on hitting the ball hard. It's been enjoyable to watch their success."
Rookie left-hander Brady Basso (1-0, 1.23 ERA) will be looking to secure a spot in Kotsay's 2025 rotation as he takes the mound for the A's. Basso has been impressive in his last two starts, not allowing a single run over 11 1/3 innings. In outings against the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, he gave up just eight hits and two walks while striking out eight.
The 26-year-old has yet to face the Cubs in his career.
Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago Cubs Recap SEP 18TH 2024
Zack Gelof doubled home the go-ahead run and scored another in a two-run eighth inning, and the visiting Oakland Athletics sent the Chicago Cubs to the verge of playoff elimination with a 5-3 victory Wednesday afternoon.
Tyler Soderstrom had two hits, including a homer, scored two runs and drove in a pair for Oakland (67-86), which completed the interleague portion of its schedule with a winning record (24-22).
Despite 2 2/3 shutout innings from Justin Steele in a comeback effort, Chicago (77-75) dropped 6 1/2 games out of the final National League wild-card spot, pending later results, with just 10 games remaining.
With the Cubs' loss, the Milwaukee Brewers (87-64) clinched the NL Central for the second straight season.
A three-run fifth inning had put the hosts in front 3-1 before Soderstrom's leadoff single triggered a tying two-run seventh for the A's. Lawrence Butler produced one run with a groundout before Brent Rooker tied the game at 3 with a two-out single.
Gelof's go-ahead double into the left-field corner in the eighth plated Seth Brown, who started the frame with a single against Nate Pearson (2-2). Gelof took third on Chicago's late relay throw to the plate.
One out later, Gelof dashed for the plate on a one-hopper to Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner and barely beat a strong throw with a slide. Chicago challenged the call, but the safe ruling was upheld.
Tyler Ferguson (4-2) pitched a scoreless seventh, Michel Otanez worked a perfect eighth and Mason Miller tossed a hitless ninth to record his 27th save.
Four Oakland relievers combined for 4 1/3 hitless shutout innings in relief of Brady Basso, who was charged with three runs on six hits in 4 2/3 frames. He walked two and struck out five.
Returning from a strained left arm, Steele threw 57 pitches before he was lifted two outs into the third inning of a scoreless game. He allowed two hits and three walks and struck out one.
Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki had RBI singles and Cody Bellinger a sacrifice fly in the Cubs' three-run fifth.
Soderstrom opened the scoring with a two-out solo shot in the fourth against Ethan Roberts.
Rooker finished with two hits, as did Swanson and Hoerner. Oakland outhit Chicago 9-6.
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