The Oakland Athletics are prepared to battle against the Houston Astros at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The opening pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET and NBC Sports – California will be airing the action.
Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics Odds
Oakland (+135) is coming into this one as the underdog to Houston (-145) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this game at 7.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total sit at -110 for both the over and the under. Runline odds stand at +100 for taking the Astros -1.5 runs and -120 for the Athletics +1.5 runs.
The Athletics are 74-49 straight up (SU) and 62-60 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 29.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.1 units (ATS). Oakland has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven. The Astros are 74-49 SU and have gone 61-61 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 12.8 units for moneyline gamblers and 6.2 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Athletics games have an over/under record of 55-60-7 in 2018. Astros games have gone under 64 times, gone over 52 times and pushed on six occasions.
The right-handed Justin Verlander is getting the start for Houston. Verlander is 11-8 with a 2.52 ERA and 217 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with 13 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA against Oakland this year (two starts).
The Athletics are sending lefty Sean Manaea (11-8, 3.44 ERA) to the mound. Manaea has 102 strikeouts and 31 walks to his name, as well as a 1.04 WHIP. Manaea is 1-1 with 14 strikeouts and a 3.78 ERA over three starts against Houston this year.
As a unit, Oakland’s pitching staff has allowed 4.1 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have an ERA of 4.06, a WHIP of 1.21 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.6. The bullpen has a 3.36 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 9.1 K/9. In 53 games against AL West foes, Athletics starters have an ERA of 5.07 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.72.
The Oakland offense is putting up 4.7 runs per outing, including 4.5 per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over its last five. The team has hit .251/.325/.440 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
The Athletics’ offense has been led by shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie. Semien is hitting .262/.321/.386 with 10 home runs, 45 RBIs, 71 runs and 13 steals, while Lowrie is batting .272 with 19 homers, 76 RBIs and 54 runs.
For the visiting squad, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.3 runs per game and its starters own a 3.08 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 10.37 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.10, along with a WHIP of 1.09.
Astros hitters have slashed .253/.330/.426 on their way to 4.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman have led Houston’s hitters. Altuve is hitting .329/.392/.464 with nine home runs, 46 RBIs, 64 runs and 14 steals, while Bregman (.277/.382/.514) is up to 23 homers, 75 RBIs and 78 runs scored.
The Astros have lost 11.2 units and are 21-26 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 20 of those games, as opposed to 25 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 22.1 units and are 39-39 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 37 of those games, as opposed to 38 which went under the total.
Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has cashed in five of Oakland’s last seven games.
The Astros have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
Oakland has recorded 22.0 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 21.8 over its last five.
The Astros have lost seven of their last eight games SU while the Athletics have taken six of their last seven.
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