The Oakland Athletics are ready to face off against their AL West foe Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. NBC Sports – California will televise the matchup and the game gets going at 2:10 p.m. ET.
Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Oakland (+200) as the underdog to Houston (-220). Bettors can gamble on the game’s total with odds sitting at -110 for over 8.5 runs and -110 for under 8.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds sitting at Athletics +1.5 runs (-110) and Astros -1.5 runs (-110).
The Athletics are 14-13 SU and are 13-13 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 2.6 units for gamblers taking the moneyline through the early part of the season, despite having lost 1.9 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Astros, on the other hand, are 18-10 SU and 14-13 ATS. The team’s lost 2.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.9 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has cashed in three of those seven.
Houston games have an over/under record of 10-15-2 so far in 2018. Oakland has an over/under record of 13-11-2.
Right-hander Trevor Cahill is projected to start for the visiting Athletics. Cahill is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 14 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Astros this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Astros are turning to righty Gerrit Cole (2-1, 1.29 ERA), who has 49 strikeouts and eight walks to his name as well as a 0.77 WHIP. Cole did not record a start against the Athletics in 2017.
Oakland’s pitchers have allowed 4.8 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.53 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 7.59 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.03, along with a K/9 of 7.50.
The Athletics offense has slashed .263/.342/.440 on its way to 5.0 runs scored per game this year, including 4.2 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Second baseman Jed Lowrie and third baseman Matt Chapman have led Oakland’s hitters. Lowrie is slashing .342/.402/.595 with six home runs, 26 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Chapman (.280/.374/.550) is up to six homers, 15 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
Chapman did not perform especially well against righties on the road in 2017. Over 115 such plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .149/.243/.347 (compared to his total season line of .234/.313/.472).
In the home-team dugout, Houston’s pitchers have given up 2.8 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have a 2.44 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.77, a WHIP of 1.03 and a K/9 of 9.7. In 16 divisional games, Astros starters have an ERA of 2.37 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.54.
Houston’s hitters have put up 5.0 runs per contest, including 4.8 per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .268/.351/.451 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Astros’ offense has been led by shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve. Correa is slashing .333/.400/.542 with four home runs, 20 RBIs and 20 runs scored, and Altuve’s line sits at .351/.411/.450 with 39 hits, 13 RBIs and 16 runs.
Altuve appeared to take a step back when facing righties at home last year, slashing .296/.358/.412 across 260 such plate appearances (compared to his overall season line of .345/.409/.547).
The Athletics have gained 1.8 units and are 6-8 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in nine of those games, as opposed to five that’ve hit the under against righties. 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, compared to 10 that’ve cashed the under.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
Oakland has posted 24.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 20.0 over its last five.
The Athletics have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
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