Mark your calendars for September 18, 2024, as the Oakland Athletics take on the Chicago Cubs at the iconic Wrigley Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:20 PM under clear skies. Brady Basso, with an impressive ERA of 1.227, will take the mound for the Athletics. Across the diamond, Justin Steele, holding an ERA of 3.094, will start for the Cubs.

In the 2024 AL West Division, the Athletics rank 13th with a record of 66-86, reflecting a winning percentage of .43. They record 21 wins and 25 losses within the division, placing them 4th. Recently, the Athletics have been fairly steady, with four wins in their last ten games and currently enjoying a one-game win streak. Their home and away records are 36-39 and 30-47 respectively, with performance during day games noticeably weaker at 27 wins.

Conversely, the Chicago Cubs stand 8th in the 2024 NL Central Division with a win-loss record of 77-74, translating to a winning percentage of .51. They have a divisional record of 21-28 and are in 2nd place. The Cubs have amassed 39-34 at home and 38-40 on the road, showing slightly better form in night games with 41 wins. Offensively, they’ve scored 695 runs, while their defense has given up 630.

In terms of betting odds, the contest presents intriguing possibilities. The game has a point spread of -1.5 and an Over/Under of 7.5. For those betting on the MoneyLine, the AwayTeam is pegged at +140, indicating a less favored scenario compared to the HomeTeam’s -165, suggesting the Cubs enter as the favorites with home advantage.