The Athletics host the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, May 23, 2025. First pitch from Sutter Health Park is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. ET; the game will be broadcast on MLB Network.
The Phillies swept the Colorado Rockies this past week and will continue their West Coast trip. Meanwhile, the Athletics have dropped eight straight games. It’ll be Phillies ace Zack Wheeler on the mound against Jeffrey Springs. Do the slumping A's stand any chance?
Continue below for my Phillies vs Athletics prediction.
My Phillies vs Athletics Prediction
- Phillies vs Athletics picks: A’s Team Total Under 3.5
My Phillies vs Athletics best bet is the A’s Team Total Under. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Phillies vs Athletics Odds
| Phillies Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -120 | 9.5 100o / -120u | -190 |
| Athletics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 +100 | 9.5 100o / -120u | +160 |
Phillies vs Athletics Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Zack Wheeler (PHI) | Stat | LHP Jeffrey Springs (OAK) |
|---|---|---|
| 5-1 | W-L | 5-3 |
| 1.8 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.5 |
| 2.67/2.12 | ERA /xERA | 3.91 3.94 |
| 2.86/2.55 | FIP / xFIP | 4.44/4.85 |
| 0.89 | WHIP | 1.25 |
| 27.9% | K-BB% | 8.9% |
| 42.3% | GB% | 30.7 |
| 109 | Stuff+ | 92 |
| 109 | Location+ | 96 |
John Feltman’s Phillies vs Athletics Preview
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Preview: Wheeler in Elite Form
The Phillies handled business and their three-game sweep against the Colorado Rockies. Tonight, they benefit from starting a series in Sacramento with Wheeler on the mound.
Wheeler’s numbers are sensational, as he has 80 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched. He enters tonight with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.
Wheeler's underlying metrics are phenomenal, as he ranks above the 96th percentile and multiple pitching metrics. He ranks above the 96th percentile in the following:
- xERA (2.12)
- xBA (.188)
- Pitching Run Value
- Offspeed Run-Value
- Extension
He is as elite as it gets, and it seems he will not slow down soon. What gets better for Wheeler tonight is that he has carved up the A’s in the past. It’s not the most enormous sample size in the world, but Wheeler has allowed under a .200 batting average against these A’s hitters.
Offensively, the Phillies draw a decent match-up against Jeffrey Springs. The Phils are batting .287 against lefties this season, so their offense should be able to scrap a couple of runs across for Wheeler.
It’s a steep price to pay, even with Wheeler on the mound, so I won’t target the Phillies here.
Athletics Betting Preview: A's Slumping Hard
The A’s have lost eight games in a row, and when it seemed like they were going to snap their losing streak yesterday, things fell apart late in the game against the Angels. They try to snap that losing streak tonight, but things look bleak as they face Wheeler.
Jeffrey Springs has been mediocre in 2025 thus far, but his underlying metrics are concerning. Springs had much stronger strikeout numbers before suffering his season-ending injury last season, and it’s unclear if he’ll ever return to that form.
It’s not the best matchup tonight for Springs, as the Phillies are much better against left-handers.
With that in mind, he will have his hands full, especially since he will have the added pressure with the A’s taking on Wheeler. Even if he pitches decent tonight and turns in a quality start, that might not be good enough, considering how elite Wheeler has been lately.
Offensively, the A’s haven’t been the sole reason they’ve been on this losing streak, but I still fear that tonight will be too tall of a task to overcome offensively. The only path I see for victory tonight is if they drive up Wheeler’s pitch count and attack the bullpen early.
Phillies vs Athletics Prediction, Betting Analysis
I am going to take the A’s team total tonight. The whole game total has taken some steam on the over, which scares me a bit.
With that in mind, I think the A’s will struggle mightily against Wheeler. This is a much cheaper approach than targeting the Phillies' moneyline, so I will put faith in Wheeler shutting down these A’s hitters.
The back end of the Phillies' pen has also pitched much better lately, so I think Wheeler will be in good hands when he departs the game.
Pick: A’s Team Total Under 3.5
