Preview for Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Schedule and player information can change.
Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics
The Angels send Walbert Ureña to the mound against the Athletics' Jeffrey Springs in a matchup with a clear separation on the pitching side. Ureña has posted a 2.74 ERA and a 3.60 FIP across approximately 144.3 innings, both markedly better marks than Springs, who carries a 6.18 ERA and 6.00 FIP over roughly 138.3 innings. That gap in run prevention gives Los Angeles a notable edge in the head-to-head pitching matchup.
On the offensive side, the split favors Oakland slightly, as the Athletics' team wOBA sits at 0.313 compared to the Angels' 0.298. However, Oakland's pitching staff overall has struggled by team measures, with a 4.95 FIP and 5.45 ERA, both worse than the Angels' team marks of 4.15 FIP and 4.24 ERA. That combination suggests the Angels' pitching staff, led by Ureña's strong individual numbers, holds a broader advantage over Oakland's than the offensive split would indicate on its own.
Injury notes include Nacho Alvarez and Rio Foster of the Angels, both listed on the 60-Day IL, and Gustavo Campero listed on the 10-Day IL. For Oakland, Jamie Arnold is listed as Out, while Henry Baez and Leo De Vries are both listed on the 7-Day IL. Taken together, the statistical profile of this game, anchored by the stark pitching disparity between Ureña and Springs and the Athletics' weaker team-wide run-prevention marks, favors the Angels.
Statistical scope: MLB Stats API; 2026 regular season season-to-date; exact statistical through-date not supplied.
WP selection: Angels moneyline. Confidence: Confident.
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.