The Oakland Athletics will be taking on their AL West rival Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. MLB Network will be televising the matchup and the game will get underway at 2:10 p.m. ET.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Odds
Vegas has listed Oakland (+165) as the underdog to Houston (-175). The total is sitting at 8.5 runs and bettors can take the over for -115 or the under for -105. The game’s most recent runline odds sit at -135 for taking the Athletics +1.5 runs and +115 for the Astros -1.5.
The Astros are 81-51 straight up (SU) and 67-64 against the spread (ATS). The team’s lost 8.6 units for moneyline bettors and 3.0 units (ATS). Houston has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total went over in five of those seven. The Athletics, on the other hand, are 80-53 SU and have gone 68-64 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 30.7 units for moneyline bettors and 1.9 units ATS. Oakland’s covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has cashed in five of those seven.
Astros games have an over/under record of 58-66-7 in 2018. The Athletics have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 58-65-9.
Right-hander Trevor Cahill will get the start for the visiting Athletics. Cahill is 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA and 87 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with 15 strikeouts and a 3.24 ERA against Houston this year (three starts).
The Astros are turning to lefty Dallas Keuchel (10-10, 3.54 ERA), who’s got 125 punchouts and 43 walks to his name as well as a 1.25 WHIP. Keuchel is 1-2 with 11 strikeouts and a 5.23 ERA over three starts against Oakland this year.
Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.08 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 6.59 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.32, along with a K/9 of 9.08.
Athletics hitters have slashed .250/.324/.437 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 outings (4-1 SU).
Oakland’s offense has been powered by shortstop Marcus Semien and second baseman Jed Lowrie. Semien is slashing .259/.319/.384 with 11 home runs, 48 RBIs, 75 runs and 13 stolen bases, while Lowrie is hitting .272 with 21 homers, 82 RBIs and 59 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.3 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have a 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.01, a WHIP of 1.04 and a K/9 of 10.7. In 65 games against AL West opponents, Astros starters have an ERA of 3.47 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.64.
Houston’s offense has put up 5.0 runs per outing, including 5.0 per game against divisional foes and 6.8 per game over its last five. The team has hit .298/.365/.472 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Third baseman Alex Bregman and second baseman Jose Altuve have paced the Astros’ hitters this year. Bregman is hitting .290/.391/.530 with 25 home runs, 85 RBIs and 88 runs scored, and Altuve’s line is .329/.393/.467 with 10 homers, 50 RBIs, 69 runs and 15 stolen bases.
The Athletics have gained 8.2 units and are 25-22 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in 18 of those games, compared to 24 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 right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 34 of those games, as opposed to 41 that’ve cashed the under.
Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has cashed in five of Oakland’s last seven games.
The Athletics have won four of their last five games SU.
Houston has recorded 26.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 28.0 over its last five.
The Athletics have hit 21 home runs in their last 10 games, including 11 over their last five.
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