On Friday, the Philadelphia Phillies (30-18) face off against the Sacramento Athletics (22-27) at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

Sacramento comes into this matchup on a seven-game losing streak prior to their last two games against the Angels. In their recent 7-5 defeat against the Angels, Athletics pitcher Gunnar Hoglund took the mound for 4.2 innings, where he surrendered six hits and was charged with five earned runs. Hoglund also walked two batters and managed to record five strikeouts during his outing. Offensively, Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom have been the biggest power threats for Sacramento this season, each slugging ten home runs to lead the team. Close behind is Shea Langeliers, who has contributed nine home runs thus far. Tyler Soderstrom has also been the team’s top run producer, collecting a team-high thirty RBIs to pace the lineup. In terms of batting average, Jacob Wilson stands out, leading the Athletics with an impressive .341 mark at the plate. On the pitching front, Sacramento’s struggles have continued recently, with the team allowing an average of 4.8 runs per game over their last five games. Currently, the Athletics find themselves trailing the division-leading Seattle Mariners by six and a half games in the AL West standings. Looking to reverse their recent slump, Sacramento enters their next matchup hoping to end their losing streak and slow down a Philadelphia team that has been playing well lately. Overall, the Athletics are averaging 4.2 runs scored per game this season.

Philadelphia enters this game on a five-game winning streak prior to their last two games against Colorado. In Philadelphia’s 7-4 victory over Colorado, Kyle Schwarber played a key role, finishing the game with one hit in four at-bats—his lone hit being a powerful home run that contributed to his two runs scored and one RBI on the night. Schwarber’s home run brought his season total to 17, making him the team’s top home run hitter so far this year. Behind him is Bryce Harper, who sits second on the Phillies with seven homers this season. Schwarber is also leading the team in runs batted in, tallying 37 RBIs to date and proving himself to be a driving force in the Phillies’ offense. In terms of batting average, Trea Turner is at the top of the roster, hitting .305 this season and providing consistent production at the plate. Philadelphia has been riding a wave of momentum, currently on a five-game winning streak during which they’ve been prolific at the plate, averaging six runs per game. Thanks to this hot streak, the Phillies have opened up a one-and-a-half game lead over the Mets and are holding onto first place in the NL East standings. As they prepare to begin a road trip to Sacramento, the Phillies will look to maintain their high level of play. On the year, the team has averaged 4.8 runs per game, highlighting their strong offensive capabilities throughout the season.

MLB Best Bets and Odds for May 21, 2025