Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros Matchup

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The streaking Houston Astros will go for their seventh straight win as they play host to the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park. The game gets underway 8:10 p.m. ET and NBC Sports – California will televise the matchup.

Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Odds

Oakland (+160) is entering this game as the underdog against Houston (-170) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total sit at -120 for the under and +100 for the over. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at Athletics +1.5 runs (-135) and Astros -1.5 runs (+115).

The Athletics are 79-53 SU and are 68-63 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 31.7 units for moneyline bettors and 3.2 units ATS. Oakland’s covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Astros, on the other hand, are 81-50 SU and 66-64 ATS. They’ve lost 9.6 units for moneyline bettors and 4.0 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has cashed in five of those seven.

Astros games have a 57-66-7 over/under record in 2018. Oakland has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 57-65-9.

Right-hander Edwin Jackson will get the nod for the visiting Athletics. Jackson is 4-3 with a 2.97 ERA and 45 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with two strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA against Houston this year.

The Astros are putting the ball in the right hand of Charlie Morton (13-3, 3.05 ERA, 1.17 WHIP), who has 182 strikeouts and 57 walks. Morton is 0-0 with nine strikeouts and a 2.89 ERA across two starts against Oakland this year.

As a unit, Houston’s pitching staff has allowed 3.3 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have a 3.16 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 3.02, a WHIP of 1.04 and a K/9 of 10.7. In 64 divisional games, Astros starters have an ERA of 3.45 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.68.

The Houston offense has put up 5.0 runs per outing, including 5.0 per game against divisional foes and 8.2 per game over its last five. The team has hit .342/.403/.556 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.

Second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman have led the charge for the Astros’ hitters this year. Altuve is hitting .332/.397/.471 with 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, 69 runs and 15 stolen bases, while Bregman is hitting .289 with 25 homers, 83 RBIs and 88 runs.

In the other dugout, Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.08 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 6.58 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.35, along with a WHIP of 1.22 and a K-per-9 of 9.07.

Athletics hitters have slashed .251/.324/.438 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game this year, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).

Shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie have led Oakland’s offense. Semien is slashing .260/.320/.386 with 11 home runs, 48 RBIs, 75 runs and 13 stolen bases, while Lowrie is hitting .273/.354/.473 with 21 homers, 82 RBIs and 58 runs scored.

The Athletics have gained 23.6 units and are 43-41 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 39 of those games, compared to 41 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 1.4 units and are 42-38 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 34 of those games, compared to 41 that went under.

Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros Prediction

Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER

Betting Notes

  • Oakland has tallied 22 extra-base hits over its last five games. Houston has 23 XBH over its last five.
  • The Athletics have hit 20 home runs in their last 10 games, including 12 over their last five.
  • Oakland has recorded 25.3 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 outings and 25.4 over its last five.