The red-hot Houston Astros will go for their seventh straight victory when they play host to the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park. The game gets underway 8:10 p.m. ET and NBC Sports – California will broadcast the matchup.
Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Oakland (+220) as the underdog to Houston (-240). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can wager on either the over or the under for -110. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the current runline odds sitting at Athletics +1.5 runs (+100) and Astros -1.5 runs (-120).
The Astros are 61-31 straight up (SU) and 48-43 against the spread (ATS). The team has gained 6.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.8 units (ATS). Houston has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Athletics have gone 50-40 SU this year and are 44-45 ATS. Overall, the team’s gained 10.9 units for moneyline bettors, but have lost 1.4 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the under has hit in three of those seven.
Astros games have had an over/under record of 40-46-5 so far in 2018. The Athletics have an over/under record of 43-40-6.
Right-hander Frankie Montas is the projected starter for Oakland. Montas (4-2, 3.83 ERA) has recorded 28 strikeouts in 42.1 innings so far. He’s 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA against Houston this year.
The Astros are putting the ball in the right hand of Gerrit Cole (9-2, 2.70 ERA), who has 158 strikeouts and 38 walks this season as well as a 0.97 WHIP. Cole is 2-0 with 27 strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA across three starts against Oakland this year.
Houston’s pitchers have allowed 3.1 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has a 2.99 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.62, a WHIP of 1.02 and a K/9 of 10.8. In 37 divisional games, Astros starters have an ERA of 2.93 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.62.
Houston’s offense has produced 5.1 runs per contest, including 5.3 per game against divisional foes and 6.8 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .298/.410/.488 over its last five matchups and is 5-0 SU during that stretch.
The Astros’ batters have been led by second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman. Altuve is slashing .338/.404/.488 with nine home runs, 44 RBIs, 61 runs and 13 stolen bases, and Bregman is hitting .281 with 17 homers, 57 RBIs, 59 runs and eight stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.37 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 6.62 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.59, along with a WHIP of 1.23 and a K-per-9 of 8.64.
The Athletics offense has slashed .247/.318/.426 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game this year, including 3.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.2 per game over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Second baseman Jed Lowrie and shortstop Marcus Semien have paced Oakland’s hitters. Lowrie is slashing .290/.357/.507 with 16 home runs, 62 RBIs and 40 runs scored. Semien (.249/.301/.357) has produced seven homers, 31 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
The Athletics have gained 12.1 units and are 28-31 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 29 of those games, compared to 27 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Astros have netted 12.9 units and are 33-24 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 26 of those games, compared to 27 that went under the total.
Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The under has hit in three of Oakland’s last seven games.
The Athletics have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games, including nine over their last five.
Houston has recorded 20.6 runs + hits + errors per game over its last 10 outings and 26.8 over its last five.
The Athletics have won four of their last five games SU.
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