Despite the chills of Wrigley Field potentially beckoning the Cubs home, let’s not let that icy wind fool us. Yes, she’s a pitcher's dream and a batter's nightmare, but that ain’t all that’s playing into this match-up. Let us divulge into the heart of it all, ladies and gents.
Leading the Athletics on the mound is Mitch Spence. With a 4.52 ERA and 7.7 K/9, in his 32 appearances this season, it’s not exactly fireworks, but hey, he could be our sticking plaster. Now, as for the Cubs, Jordan Wicks has been showing some promise, although his ERA is sitting a little high at 5.45, but his 8.6 K/9 in just 10 appearances... let's call it a spirited fella with a heavy arm.
Speaking of arms, let's take a look at those swinging 'em. The Athletics have Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker lighting up the box scores. The former must love a good home run trot, eight times this season, and the latter isn’t far behind with nine under his belt. The Cubs counter back with a collection of their own "tool shed," featuring the likes of Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, and Cody Bellinger. All with a knack for visiting those bases frequently, having seen a load of action at the plate. Bravo, gentlemen, bravo.
Past match-ups between these two teams seem a touch lopsided, with the Cubs dealing some heavy blows to the Athletics, including a severe 9-2 and even a shutout last year in April. Those wounds still sting, trust me.
Taking regular season records into account, the Cubs find themselves perched slightly higher than their counterparts, they’ve seen more wins, but cricket ain’t simple, and no one, absolutely no one, gets a free lunch in baseball.
Recent form appears to favor the Cubs again. With a strong win against the Athletics very recently and some other nail-biting indulgences. However, the Athletics pulled a rabbit out the hat and came out guns blazing on Fri Sep 13 2024.
So, while Wrigley Field may be more comforting and familiar to the Cubs, I'm putting my chips on Oakland tonight. It’s been David and Goliath before, and we know how that ended. Call me crazy, purists, but I see a new tale on the horizon.
Albert’s Prediction: Oakland Athletics by 2