Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, MLB Picks, MLB Free Picks, MLB Predictions 6/23/26

Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, MLB Picks, MLB Free Picks, MLB Predictions 6/23/26

ATHLETICS @ SAN FRANCISCO (SF -122, 8.5)

MLB ODDS, MLB PREDICTIONS, MLB PREVIEWS

COACH RICK MLB PREVIEWS

ATHLETICS @ GIANTS 6/23/26

The "Battle of the Bay" moves to Oracle Park tonight as the Athletics take on the San Francisco Giants. This matchup features two starting pitchers looking to stabilize their seasons and a few red-hot bats that are primed for big performances in the San Francisco marine layer.

GAME ANALYSIS

The Athletics enter this matchup as live road underdogs, and the statistical profile suggests they should be closer to a pick-em. While Aaron Civale has struggled recently (4.91 ERA), Oracle Park is a massive "ballpark bailout" for fly-ball pitchers. The deep gaps and heavy air suppress home runs (79 HR factor), which directly benefits Civale's profile. On the other side, Robbie Ray has been plagued by a high walk rate (11%) and home run issues (1.6 HR/9). The Athletics' lineup has been particularly effective against left-handed pitching, slugging .437 against southpaws this season.

The Giants are reeling after being swept by the Marlins, leading to internal discussions about potentially selling at the trade deadline. Conversely, the Athletics are playing competitive baseball, sitting just behind the Mariners in the AL West. A critical factor tonight is the bullpen discrepancy. The Athletics' relief corps has been elite on the road with a 3.09 ERA, while the Giants' bullpen has struggled at home with a 4.10 ERA. In a game likely decided in the late innings at a pitcher-friendly park, the A's have the superior back-end depth.

Keep in mind, the Athletics are 16-8 this season when playing on the road as an underdog between +100 and +150. The A’s have hit 14 HRs and are batting .325 in June so far. Ray allows 1.6 HR/9.

TOP PLAYER PROPS

Zack Gelof is currently in the midst of an incredible hot streak. He has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 24 games. He is seeing the ball exceptionally well, averaging 1.6 hits per game over his last five outings. His matchup against Robbie Ray is also favorable. In their limited history, Gelof is 1-for-1 against the veteran lefty.

Gelof's ability to make contact is peaking just as he faces a pitcher in Ray who often struggles with command. Gelof has a .284 season average and has proven to be a reliable spark plug for the Oakland offense. Gelof has a hit in 43 of the 54 games (80%) he’s played in this season. The price is right too. You can get Gelof Over 0.5 Hits at -155.

Shea Langeliers has been a force in the middle of the Athletics' order, boasting an .854 OPS and 19 home runs. He has a documented history of success against Robbie Ray, going 2-for-4 (.500 BA) with a home run in their career matchups. Langeliers has hit the Over 0.5 Hits in 80% of his last 15 games and has been even better on the road, recording a hit in 70.6% of his away games this season.

Langeliers' power profile (.521 slugging) makes him a threat every time he steps in, but his consistency in finding grass has been the story lately. He is averaging 1.1 hits per game on the season. Facing a lefty like Ray, against whom he has already homered, provides a high-confidence floor for this hit prop.

Nick Kurtz has been a statistical marvel since his arrival, leading the MLB in on-base percentage (.439). He has recorded a hit in 9 of his last 10 games and 16 of his last 20. Kurtz is a disciplined hitter who rarely beats himself, which is a major advantage against a pitcher like Robbie Ray who tends to nibble at the corners.

Kurtz's season average of .288 and his ability to drive the ball (1.92 total bases per game) make him a dangerous matchup for any starter. He has been consistent on the road, hitting the over on this prop in 69.4% of his 36 visitor games. With Ray's tendency to hand out walks, Kurtz should see plenty of favorable counts to drive a pitch.

NRFI?

Oracle Park is a premier environment for the NRFI (No Run First Inning). Both Aaron Civale and Robbie Ray have been dominant in the opening frame this season. Civale has held opponents scoreless in the first inning in 7 of his 11 starts (63.6%), while Robbie Ray has been even better, posting a clean first inning in 11 of his 14 starts (78.6%).

The Athletics have failed to score in the first inning in each of their last 5 games. The Giants have also gone 5-for-5 in NRFIs over their last 5 outings. The combined NRFI probability based on these pitchers' season rates is approximately 52.7%, yet the market is offering +113 odds, providing significant value. Given the pitcher-friendly nature of Oracle Park (97 overall factor) and the recent first-inning scoring droughts for both offenses, the Under 0.5 first-inning runs is a sharp play.

Get free MLB Picks and MLB Predictions for the top games on the weekly 2026 MLB schedule from the YLose.com  crew, one of the industry's largest networks of premier expert MLB handicappers. YLose.com has been bringing the MLB betting community the best MLB free picks and predictions for nearly three decades. Visit daily for the best MLB moneyline and point spread odds and game totals.

FREE PICK: ATHLETICS F5 +0.5

Civale has gotten his ass ripped in his last two starts - 6 ER vs PIT and 7 ER vs SEA. But, both of those games were in the little league Sutter Health Park. Civale has actually pitched well on the road this season - 3-0 with a 3.19 ERA. His OBA is more than 120 points lower when pitching on the road and he has a start against the Giants - on May 16 - under his belt already this season. Civale pitched 5 innings, allowed 6 hits and 2 ER while picking up a win over San Francisco. The A’s have been crushing LHP. They rank No. 1 in OPS and ISO in the month of June. Robbie Ray’s last start was impressive, but his last two home starts haven’t been great - 5 ER vs. WSH and 4 ER vs. CHW. The A’s are a profitable F5 team and, it’s hard to believe, but Civale is one of the most profitable F5 ML pitchers in MLB. He’s 8-4 on the F5 ML, but we’ll play it conservatively and take the A’s on the F5 RL.

Coach Rick Day Pass $49

BUY NOW

Ylose expert Coach Rick Bowe delivers his daily Quick Picks. The Coach continues to roll up big wins in college basketball, college football, the NFL, MLB and much more. Coach Rick offers a unique perspective to handicapping. Check out his daily free picks right here and jump on his daily Best Bets, which you can find right here at Ylose.com/coach.