The Oakland Athletics are set to host their division rival Houston Astros at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. NBC Sports – California will broadcast the matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics Odds
Houston (-110) is favored over Oakland (+100) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this afternoon game at 8 runs (-110 for the under and -110 for the over). The game’s most recent runline odds sit at +135 for picking the Astros -1.5 runs and -155 for the Athletics +1.5.
The Athletics are 73-49 straight up (SU) and 61-60 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 28.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 0.8 units (ATS). Oakland has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Astros have gone 74-48 SU this year and are 61-60 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 11.3 units for moneyline bettors and 5.2 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven.
Oakland games have an over/under record of 55-59-7 in 2018. Houston has been a good under bet with a total record of 52-63-6.
Dallas Keuchel is getting the nod for Houston. The left-handed Keuchel is 9-9 with a 3.43 ERA and 115 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with seven strikeouts and a 4.20 ERA against Oakland this year (two starts).
The Athletics will put the ball in the right hand of Trevor Cahill (4-2, 3.39 ERA), who has 78 strikeouts and 24 walks this season as well as a 1.10 WHIP. Cahill is 0-1 with eight strikeouts and a 5.59 ERA over two starts against Houston this year.
As a unit, Oakland’s pitchers have given up 4.2 runs per game overall this season. Its starting pitching staff has a 4.10 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 52 games against divisional opponents, Athletics starters have an ERA of 5.20 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.71.
The Oakland hitters are putting up 4.7 runs per outing, including 4.4 per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over their last five. The team has hit .257/.343/.440 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie have led the Athletics’ batters this year. Semien is hitting .263/.322/.388 with 10 home runs, 45 RBIs, 70 runs and 13 stolen bases, and Lowrie is hitting .273 with 19 homers, 76 RBIs and 53 runs scored.
For the visiting squad, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.3 runs per game and its starters own a 3.05 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 10.40 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.07, along with a WHIP of 1.09 and a K-per-9 of 10.87.
Astros hitters have slashed .254/.331/.427 on their way to 4.9 runs scored per game this season, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Houston’s offense has been led by second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman, who collectively have belted 32 home runs. Altuve is slashing .329/.392/.464 with nine home runs, 46 RBIs, 64 runs and 14 steals. Bregman is hitting .279/.383/.518 with 23 homers, 75 RBIs and 78 runs scored.
The Astros have lost 0.1 units and are 40-34 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 32 of those games, as opposed to 38 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 7.7 units and are 23-21 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s cashed in 18 of those games, compared to 22 that went under the total.
Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Athletics, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has hit in only two of Houston’s last seven outings.
- The Astros have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including seven over their last five.
- Oakland has recorded 21.3 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 outings and 22.4 over its last five.
- The Athletics have won five of their last six games SU.
