The Oakland Athletics will be squaring off against their AL West foe Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. NBC Sports – California will be airing the matchup and the game gets underway at 7:10 p.m. ET.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Houston (-185) as the favorite over Oakland (+175). The total is sitting at 9 runs and bettors can wager on the over for +105 and the under for -125. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds standing at -125 for the Athletics +1.5 runs and +105 for the Astros -1.5 runs.
The Astros are 17-10 SU and 14-12 ATS. They’ve lost 0.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline 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 14-12 SU and have gone 12-13 ATS. Overall, the team’s gained 1.1 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going, but have lost 2.9 units ATS. Oaklandhas 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. The Athletics have an over/under record of 13-11-1.
Daniel Mengden will get the start for Oakland. The right-handed Mengden is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-0, 3.00 ERA and four strikeouts over six innings).
The Astros are turning to righty Lance McCullers Jr. (3-1, 4.67 ERA), who has 37 strikeouts and 12 walks to his name as well as a WHIP of 1.44. McCullers Jr. only made one start against the Athletics in 2017 (0-0, 10.38 ERA and six strikeouts across four and 1-third innings).
Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starters own a 4.35 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 7.65 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.69, along with a K-per-9 of 7.47.
The Athletics offense has slashed .268/.348/.450 on its way to 5.2 runs scored per game this year, including 4.4 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Oakland’s offensive production been powered by second baseman Jed Lowrie and third baseman Matt Chapman, who’ve collectively swatted 12 home runs. Lowrie is slashing .349/.408/.606 with six home runs, 26 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Chapman is hitting .278 with six homers, 15 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
Chapman didn’t seem to enjoy hitting against right-handed pitchers on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .149/.243/.347 across 115 such plate appearances (his overall season line was .234/.313/.472).
For the home team, Houston’s pitching staff has given up 2.9 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has a 2.54 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.84, a WHIP of 1.03 and a K/9 of 9.8. In 15 games against AL West opponents, Astros starters have an ERA of 2.54 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.79.
The Houston hitters have produced 4.7 runs per contest, including 4.3 per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .246/.333/.371 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Shortstop Carlos Correa and outfielder Josh Reddick have led the Astros’ batters this year. Correa is hitting .337/.400/.554 with four home runs, 20 RBIs and 19 runs scored, and Reddick’s line sits at .250/.360/.500 with six homers, 15 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
Reddick performed well against righty pitching at home last season. Across 209 such plate appearances, he slashed .364/.397/.561 (compared to his overall season line of .314/.363/.484).
The Athletics have gained 1.8 units and are 6-8 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in nine of those games, as opposed to five that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 1.2 units and are 9-8 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in six of those games, as opposed to 10 that’ve gone under.
Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Athletics have won five of their last six games SU.
Oakland fielders have committed five errors over their last five games, compared to zero errors for Houston over its last five.
Each team has hit 12 home runs over its last 10 games.
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