The Oakland Athletics will head east to take on their divisional rival Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The matchup will get going at 8:10 p.m. ET and fans hoping to watch it can tune in to NBC Sports – California.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Odds
Vegas has listed Oakland (+150) as the dog to Houston (-160). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -115 for over eight runs and -105 for under eight. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds coming in at Athletics +1.5 runs (-145) and Astros +-1.5 runs (+125).
The Astros are 17-9 SU and 14-12 ATS. They’ve lost 0.7 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 0.0 units against the spread (ATS). Houston has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Athletics are 13-12 SU and have gone 12-13 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 1.1 units for moneyline bettors in this young season, but have lost 2.9 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Astros games have an over/under record of 10-15-1 so far in 2018. Oakland has an over/under record of 13-11-1.
Southpaw Sean Manaea is getting the start for the visiting Athletics. Manaea is 3-2 with a 1.23 ERA and 30 strikeouts. He has yet to face Houston this year, but he did make four starts against the Astros in 2017, putting together a 1-2 record against them with a 3.18 ERA and 19 strikeouts.
The Astros are sending lefty Dallas Keuchel (1-3, 3.10 ERA) to the mound. Keuchel has 25 punchouts and 12 walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 1.38. Keuchel made four starts against the team in 2017, posting a 3-1 record in 2017, compiling a 3-1 record with a 1.98 ERA and 23 strikeouts.
As a unit, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 2.7 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 2.31 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has posted a solid ERA of just 2.68, a WHIP of 1.01 and a K/9 of 9.6. In 14 games against AL West foes, Astros starters have an ERA of 2.14 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.54.
Houston’s hitters are putting up 4.9 runs per contest, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .287/.387/.456 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
Shortstop Carlos Correa and left fielder Josh Reddick have led the Astros’ offense this year. Correa is slashing .341/.406/.568 with four home runs, 19 RBIs and 19 runs scored, while Reddick’s line is .247/.360/.507 with six homers, 15 RBIs and 16 runs.
Correa seemed to enjoy hitting left-handed pitching in 2017, slashing .391/.457/.609 over 105 plate appearances (his total season line was .315/.391/.550).
For the visiting squad, Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starters own a 4.58 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 7.58 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.77, along with a K-per-9 of 7.54.
The Athletics offense has slashed .267/.351/.444 on its way to 5.1 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Second baseman Jed Lowrie and third baseman Matt Chapman have led Oakland’s offense. Lowrie is slashing .352/.414/.600 with six home runs, 24 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Chapman (.269/.370/.516) is up to five homers, 14 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .277/.360/.448, Lowrie did not do especially well against lefties on the road last season, putting up a slash line of .203/.301/.359 across 73 such plate appearances.
The Athletics have lost 0.7 units and are 6-5 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in four of those games, compared to six that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have netted 0.6 units and are 5-4 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in four of those games, as opposed to five which went under the total.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
Houston has recorded 25.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 25.4 over its last five.
The Athletics have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 13 over their last 10.
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