Look, I’m not going to suggest this is a World Series preview or anything — can you imagine the Fall Classic at Sutter Health Park, though? However, the Athletics have been a great story in the early part of 2025, sitting at 22-20, only 1.5 games back of the Mariners for first place in the AL West. That’s a far cry from the doldrums that the franchise has been through for the past couple of seasons.
Then there’s the Dodgers, who are just as good as everyone expected, despite so many injuries to their star-studded rotation. Los Angeles enters play on Wednesday 27-15, but having not won consecutive games since back on May 2 and May 3. After getting demolished 11-1 last night, can the Dodgers bounce back get a victory against a Californian foe?
Let’s break down everything you’ll need to know for tonight’s contest with the help of some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Athletics vs. Dodgers prediction, preview
You know who is really good? Yoshinobu Yamamoto. With Tyler Glasnow (shoulder), Blake Snell (shoulder) and Roki Sasaki (shoulder) all currently on the IL, Yamamoto is basically the last man standing of what some were calling the greatest rotation ever assembled. That includes Shohei Ohtani, who has still yet to throw a pitch in 2025.
No matter. Yamamoto has been a one-man wrecking crew. Across 45.0 innings of work, the right-hander has maintained a 1.80 ERA and a 2.65 xERA, as he’s only conceded more than a single earned run in two of his eight outings. One of those starts was his most recent, with the Diamondbacks putting up five runs in five innings off the Japanese import. However, it’s worth noting that that game was in Arizona, unlike tonight’s, which will take place at Dodger Stadium, where Yamamoto possesses a 1.69 ERA. For the season as a whole, Yamamoto’s 30.3% strikeout rate is the seventh-highest mark in MLB. His 0.98 WHIP ranks 12th among qualified starters.
On the other side of this pitching matchup, we find the second-most famous Gunnar currently playing in the majors. Gunnar Hoglund has been solid in his first two outings for the Athletics, giving up just three earned runs in 11.1 innings, and maintaining a 10.0 K/BB ratio. At the same time, the Marlins and the Mariners are not the Dodgers in terms of offensive potency. Hoglund isn’t short on pedigree of his own, as he’s a former first-round pick that the organization acquired in the Matt Chapman trade, yet Wednesday’s tilt will surely represent the most difficult lineup the rookie has ever faced. After all, Los Angeles does lead the NL in wRC+ (125).
Athletics vs. Dodgers pick, best bet
The total for this game on the DraftKings Sportsbook is currently listed at 8.5, which seems a little high for a contest featuring Yamamoto. To wit, seven of the right-hander’s eight starts have gone under this number so far this season and that includes that aforementioned rocky outing against the Diamondbacks. If Hoglund can limit the damage to just three or four runs, this shouldn’t even be a sweat.
Best Bet: Under 8.5 (-102)
Seven of Yamamoto’s eight starts have gone under this total in 2025.
Strong Lean: Yamamoto to Record a Win (-110)
An alternative to taking the Dodgers at -285 on the moneyline.
