Preview for Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Schedule and player information can change.
Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics
The Angels travel to Oakland for a matchup set for 9:40 PM ET, with Yusei Kikuchi starting for Los Angeles against Brady Basso for the Athletics. Kikuchi has thrown approximately 57.3 innings with a 5.02 ERA and a WP-calculated FIP of 4.30, while Basso has worked approximately 40.0 innings with a 4.50 ERA and a lower WP-calculated FIP of 3.27, suggesting Basso's peripheral numbers have been stronger despite the smaller workload.
Looking at the team-level numbers, Oakland holds a wOBA edge at 0.312 compared to the Angels' 0.297, indicating the Athletics' offense has performed better by that measure. On the run-prevention side, however, the Angels look stronger as a team, with a 4.13 FIP and 4.21 ERA against Oakland's 4.95 FIP and 5.44 ERA, both of which are considerably higher than the Angels' marks. That gives Los Angeles a clear team-wide pitching and run-prevention advantage even though Oakland's lineup carries the better collective wOBA.
Injury-wise, the Angels have Nacho Alvarez listed on the 60-Day IL, Gustavo Campero listed on the 10-Day IL, and Rio Foster listed on the 60-Day IL, while the Athletics have Jamie Arnold listed as Out, Henry Baez listed on the 7-Day IL, and Leo De Vries listed on the 7-Day IL. Weighing everything together, the Angels' better team ERA and FIP figures, combined with Basso's superior FIP compared to Kikuchi's, make this a fairly balanced matchup where Los Angeles's overall run-prevention numbers stand out as the more favorable signal.
Statistical scope: MLB Stats API; 2026 regular season season-to-date; exact statistical through-date not supplied.
WP selection: Athletics +1.5. Confidence: Slight Lean.
The selection is supplied separately by WP. The comparisons above do not establish why the model made this selection.
WP home-run candidate for Angels: Mike Trout. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
WP home-run candidate for Athletics: Brian Serven. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
Predictions are uncertain; no outcome is guaranteed. Check the picks page for the latest available selections.