The Oakland Athletics are set to square off against their divisional rival Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The game gets underway 8:10 p.m. ET and NBC Sports – California will televise the action.
Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Oakland (+205) as the underdog to Houston (-225). The total sits at 8 runs and bettors can take the over or the under for -110. The game’s most recent runline odds sit at -105 for taking the Athletics +1.5 runs and -115 for the Astros -1.5.
The Astros are 61-32 straight up (SU) and 48-44 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 7.5 units for moneyline bettors while earning 0.8 units (ATS). Houston has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has hit in five of those seven. The Athletics are 51-40 SU and have gone 45-45 ATS. In total, the team’s gained 12.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline, but have lost 0.4 units ATS. Oakland has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in three of those seven.
Astros games have a 40-47-5 over/under record so far in 2018. The Athletics have an over/under record of 43-41-6.
Sean Manaea will get the start for the visiting Athletics. The southpaw Manaea is 8-6 with a 3.33 ERA and 78 strikeouts. He’s 1-1 with 10 strikeouts and a 2.84 ERA against Houston this year (two starts).
The Astros are handing the ball to righty Justin Verlander (9-4, 2.15 ERA), who has 154 strikeouts and 24 walks, as well as a WHIP of 0.84. Verlander is 1-0 with seven strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA in one start against Oakland this year.
Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starters own a 4.31 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 6.58 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.56, along with a K-per-9 of 8.70.
Athletics hitters have slashed .246/.317/.424 on their way to 4.6 runs scored per game this year, including 3.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Oakland’s offense has been powered by second baseman Jed Lowrie and shortstop Marcus Semien. Lowrie is slashing .288/.358/.504 with 16 home runs, 62 RBIs and 40 runs scored. Semien (.247/.301/.354) has produced seven homers, 31 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
For the home team, Houston’s pitching staff has given up 3.1 runs per game overall in 2018. The club’s starters have an ERA of 2.96, a WHIP of 1.06 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 10.4. The bullpen has posted a solid ERA of just 2.66, a WHIP of 1.03 and a K/9 of 10.8. In 38 divisional games, Astros starters have an ERA of 2.86 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.72.
The Houston hitters are putting up 5.1 runs per outing, including 5.2 per game against divisional foes and 5.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .286/.392/.435 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Second baseman Jose Altuve and third baseman Alex Bregman have led the Astros’ hitters this year. Altuve is hitting .337/.403/.485 with nine home runs, 44 RBIs, 61 runs and 13 steals, and Bregman’s line is .281/.382/.516 with 17 homers, 57 RBIs, 59 runs and eight steals.
The Athletics have gained 13.7 units and are 29-31 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 29 of those games, compared to 28 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 6.5 units and are 15-19 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in 14 of those games, compared to 19 that’ve gone under.
Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has cashed in only two of Houston’s last seven games.
The Athletics have won five of their last six games SU.
Houston has posted 19.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.2 over its last five.
The Athletics have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
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