The Oakland Athletics will head east to play their divisional rival Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The game gets underway 8:10 p.m. ET and NBC Sports – California will televise the matchup.
Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros Odds
Vegas is listing Oakland (+175) as the underdog to Houston (-185). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can take the over for +110 and the under for -130. The game’s most recent runline odds stand at -125 for taking the Athletics +1.5 runs and +105 for the Astros -1.5.
The Astros are 80-50 straight up (SU) and 65-64 against the spread (ATS). The team’s lost 10.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.3 units (ATS). The Athletics are 79-52 SU and have gone 67-63 ATS. In total, the team’s accumulated 30.6 units for moneyline bettors and 2.2 units ATS.
Astros games have had an over/under record of 57-65-7 in 2018. Oakland has also been a decent under bet with a total record of 57-64-9.
Southpaw Brett Anderson is getting the nod for Oakland. Anderson is 3-3 with a 3.47 ERA and 33 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with a 21.00 ERA against Houston this year.
The Astros will be sending righty Gerrit Cole (11-5, 2.73 ERA) to the mound. Cole has 226 strikeouts and 52 walks to his credit, as well as a 1.01 WHIP. Cole is 2-0 with 38 strikeouts and a 2.92 ERA over four starts against Oakland this year.
As a unit, Houston’s pitching staff has given up 3.3 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 3.14 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.04, a WHIP of 1.04 and a K/9 of 10.7. In 63 games against AL West foes, Astros starters have an ERA of 3.40 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.73.
The Houston offense has produced 5.0 runs per outing, including 4.9 per game against divisional foes and 6.6 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .324/.386/.514 over its last five matchups and is 5-0 SU during that span.
The Astros’ hitters have been led by second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman. Altuve is hitting .330/.395/.468 with 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, 68 runs and 15 stolen bases, while Bregman’s line is .283/.387/.517 with 24 homers, 79 RBIs and 86 runs.
In the visiting dugout, Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.03 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 6.59 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.27, along with a K/9 of 9.11.
Athletics hitters have slashed .252/.324/.438 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game this season, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie continue to lead Oakland’s offense. Semien is hitting .261/.320/.381 with 10 home runs, 46 RBIs, 74 runs and 13 stolen bases, while Lowrie is hitting .276/.356/.477 with 21 homers, 82 RBIs and 58 runs scored.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- Oakland has tallied 20 extra-base hits over its last five outings. Houston has 19 XBH over its last five.
- Oakland has posted 25.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.2 over its last five.
- The Athletics have hit 19 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
