I’m already preparing myself for the Athletics takes that will be floating around five months from now. This is going to be everyone’s “sleeper” team in 2026 — especially if they acquire a little more pitching help in the offseason. Mark my words. As it stands in the present, the nomad A’s have won six of their last seven contests and will now start a series with the Pirates at beautiful PNC Park.
Will the Athletics stay hot? Let’s preview this interleague matchup with the help of some of those odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Athletics vs. Pirates prediction, preview
Luis Severino has been nothing if not consistent so far in 2025. The man does not like pitching at Sutter Health Park — at all. This past Saturday, Severino conceded five earned in just five innings to the Reds, raising his ERA to a stunning 6.51 at home this season. On the road? Severino is a completely different person, holding opponents to a .274 wOBA and a maintaining a 3.11 ERA. Do you think he’s happy to be pitching in Pittsburgh this evening?
It’s not just that Severino isn’t taking the mound in Sacramento, it’s that he’s doing so against a hapless Pirates lineup that hasn’t been able to score runs all summer long. If you isolate the team’s offensive numbers in September, you actually might be sick to your stomach. In the month, Pittsburgh is hitting well below the Mendoza line as a team (.194). It also ranks dead-last in ISO (.100), wOBA (.262) and wRC+ (63). In other words, the Pirates are an opposing pitcher’s absolute dream matchup.
That’s the opposite of the A’s, who happen to employ some downright terrifying hitters. Since September 1, the Athletics possess the league’s third-highest ISO (.196) and wRC+ (123), as Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers all finish off fantastic campaigns. That’s probably not what you want to hear if you’re Mitch Keller, though. As per usual, Keller has petered out after a good start to the season, posting an inflated 5.73 ERA since the All-Star break. Seven years in and I think it’s safe to say that we know what Keller is: A solid back-end starter with that’s going to register an ERA in the low 4.00 range. That’s fine. Yet it does speak to why Pittsburgh seemed so willing to part with the 29-year-old at the trade deadline. He’s simply nothing special.
Athletics vs. Pirates pick, best bet
Best Bet: Athletics ML (-112)
The A’s have won six of their last seven and Luis Severino has been far better on the road.
Strong Lean: Pirates Under 3.5 Runs (+110)
Pittsburgh has been held under four runs in 10 of its 15 games in September.
