Just a Bet Outside is recommending a half-unit wager on the Athletics' first five innings money line against the Cubs due to the clear pitching advantage. They noted Cubs starter Jameson Taillon's recent struggles—allowing 5 earned runs on 6 hits in his final spring outing and 6 earned runs on 9 hits against Arizona in his 2023 regular-season debut. Taillon's career ERA typically hovers over four, lacking substantial swing-and-miss capability. Conversely, Jeffrey Springs has strong upside, showcased by a 2.46 ERA in 2022, and performed notably well in his first 2023 start against Seattle. The Cubs, who swung well against weaker right-handed pitching earlier in this series, now face Springs, a lefty—against whom they were merely average last season. Additionally, Oakland's offense, while not elite, has capability and has totaled seven runs in two games so far this series despite previously playing in pitcher-friendly Seattle. Notably, there's situational value—as Oakland lost the first two games of this home series, they'll likely respond aggressively to avoid being swept.
