Athletics vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Odds & Preview For Tonight's MLB Game - 6/4/2026
Updated July 30, 2026
The Athletics head into Thursday night looking for a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field after taking the first two games of the series. Oakland won 2-1 behind a strong outing from rookie left-hander Gage Jump on Tuesday and followed it up with a 5-4 extra-inning victory on Wednesday. The Cubs remain a dangerous lineup, but they have struggled recently and enter the Athletics vs Cubs series finale searching for answers after dropping 7 of their last 10 games.
Oakland enters this game with a clear edge in recent form. The Athletics have already secured the series and have received excellent pitching throughout the first two games. JT Ginn has quietly become one of the most reliable starters in the Athletics rotation, carrying a 2.87 ERA into this outing. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five consecutive starts and continues to limit hard contact.
Chicago counters with Shota Imanaga, whose recent form is concerning. Over his last three starts, he has surrendered 20 runs and eight home runs in just 15.2 innings. That trend is particularly troubling against an Athletics lineup that features power threats such as Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom, and Brent Rooker. While the Cubs are still a solid offensive club, Oakland has the hotter pitching staff and enters the finale with a confidence edge after winning the first two games.
The Athletics have won the first two games of the series and face a pitcher in Imanaga who has been hit hard recently. The total is elevated at 10 runs, but Wrigley Field can produce high-scoring games when the weather cooperates, and both pitching staffs have dealt with inconsistency. Rooker remains one of Oakland's premier power bats and offers strong value on the total bases market.
Brent Rooker to Hit a Home Run +470
Rooker owns some of the best raw power on the Athletics roster and draws a favorable matchup against a left-hander who has allowed eight home runs across his last three starts. With Imanaga struggling to keep the ball in the yard, Rooker is a logical choice in the home run market.
Category | Athletics | Cubs |
|---|---|---|
Batting Average | .247 | .238 |
OPS | .720 | .720 |
wOBA | .320 | .323 |
wRC+ | 99 | 107 |
Team ERA | 4.45 | 4.15 |
xFIP | 4.54 | 4.00 |
The overall statistical breakdown of these teams suggests a fairly even game. Chicago owns a slight edge in advanced offensive metrics and pitching, but the difference is not significant. And when you factor in Chicago's recent struggles, you can throw those advantages out the window. Oakland's lineup has produced quality at-bats throughout this series and has already demonstrated it can generate offense against Chicago pitching.
The pitching matchup is the key factor. Ginn has been far more reliable over the last month, while Imanaga's recent struggles have become impossible to ignore. The Cubs still possess dangerous hitters such as Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, and Michael Busch, but Oakland has consistently limited scoring opportunities in this series.
With the Athletics playing well, the Cubs scuffling, and Ginn entering in much stronger form than Imanaga, the value lies with the underdog. Our projected final score is Athletics 6, Cubs 4, making Oakland moneyline my preferred wager for Thursday night's finale at Wrigley Field.
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