The Oakland Athletics are playing host to the Houston Astros at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. MLB Network will broadcast the matchup and the game is scheduled to get underway at 3:35 p.m. ET.
Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics Odds
Oakland (+155) is the home-team underdog against Houston (-165) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 8 runs (-110 for the under and -110 for the over). Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds standing at -115 for the Astros -1.5 runs and -105 for the Athletics +1.5 runs.
The Astros are 44-25 SU and have gone 37-31 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 2.4 units for moneyline bettors and 4.6 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven. The Athletics, on the other hand, are 34-34 SU and 31-36 ATS. The team has gained 1.1 units for moneyline bettors while earning 6.3 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Athletics games have a 30-33-4 over/under record so far in 2018. The Astros have been a decent under bet with a total record of 29-35-4.
Justin Verlander will get the start for the visiting Astros. The right-handed Verlander is 8-2 with a 1.45 ERA and 113 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Athletics this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Athletics will turn to righty Frankie Montas (3-0, 1.25 ERA), who has 14 strikeouts and three walks as well as a WHIP of 0.88. Montas did not record a start against the Astros in 2017.
As a unit, Oakland’s pitchers have given up 4.4 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have a 4.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 6.7 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.55 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 8.4 K/9. In 33 games against AL West opponents, Athletics starters have an ERA of 5.72 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.31.
The Oakland offense is putting up 4.4 runs per contest, including 3.5 per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .222/.296/.401 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Second baseman Jed Lowrie and shortstop Marcus Semien have led the Athletics’ batters this year. Lowrie is hitting .280/.345/.460 with nine home runs, 42 RBIs and 26 runs scored, while Semien is hitting .260 with five homers, 25 RBIs and 39 runs scored.
For the visitors, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 2.94 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 10.15 K/9. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.94, along with a K-per-9 of 10.61.
The Astros offense has slashed .262/.336/.432 on its way to 5.1 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 7.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (5-0 SU).
Houston’s hitters have been led by second baseman Jose Altuve and outfielder George Springer, who collectively have belted 19 home runs. Altuve is slashing .336/.385/.461 with five home runs, 34 RBIs, 42 runs and 10 stolen bases. Springer (.293/.367/.507) has produced 14 homers, 41 RBIs and 52 runs scored.
The Astros have gained 3.4 units and are 24-18 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 17 of those games, compared to 22 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 6.5 units and are 21-24 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in 22 of those games, compared to 21 that went under the total.
Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The over has hit in five of Houston’s last seven outings.
The Astros have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games, including 11 over their last five.
Oakland has posted 20.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 18.0 over its last five.
The Athletics have dropped three of their last four games SU.
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