Marlins vs. Athletics Prediction and Odds for Wednesday, August 24 (How to Bet Two Poor Offenses)
By Reed Wallach
Arguably the two worst offenses in baseball play Wednesday afternoon likely in front of a very small crowd in Oakland.
The Marlins have a solid pitching staff but can't back it up with their offense. Can the offense find success against one of the worst teams in baseball in the Oakland Athletics?
This is a battle of two teams playing for next year and beyond, but is there betting value? Let's check out the odds from consensus sportsbooks:
Marlins vs. Athletics Odds, Run Line, Total
Run Line:
- Marlins: +1.5 (+145)
- Athletics: +1.5 (-180)
Moneyline:
- Marlins: -120
- Athletics: +100
Total:
- 6.5 (Over -115/Under -105)
Marlins vs. Athletics Prediction and Pick
Anywhere you look for numbers on these two offense, you need to scroll to the bottom of the screen. They are 25th or worse in every hitting metric, including last in a handful of them. It's even more dire against lefties, Oakland is 27th in batting average against southpaws while the Marlins are last in baseball.
Now, for the pitchers, both of which are good! Jesús Luzardo was traded from the Athletics last season and now gets to bring his strikeout prowess back home and beat his former team. He is striking out nearly 12 batters per nine innings and he has a 3.44 ERA supported by a 3.08 FIP.
Luzardo should overpower the A's offense, but so should Cole Irvin as well against a helpless Marlins lineup. While Irvin is coming off a pair of starts where he allowed five runs each time, that was against elite offensive clubs like the Astros and Mariners. Past that, he went seven straight starts allowing less than three runs. That star that snapped the streak? Against the Yankees.
Sensing a trend? Irvin is a destroyer of below average offenses and I like his chances against the Marlins to keep this game low scoring and close. Don't expect either offense to run away in this one.
LEAN: UNDER 6.5
You can find Donnavan Smoot’s full betting record here.