The Oakland Athletics will go for their fourth consecutive win as they play host to the Houston Astros at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The matchup will begin at 10:05 p.m. ET and fans hoping to watch it can tune in to NBC Sports – California.
Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics Odds
,Vegas has listed Houston (-140) as the favorite over Oakland (+130). Gamblers can wager on the games total with odds sitting at -105 for over 8.5 runs and -115 for under 8.5. The games current runline odds stand at +105 for betting the Astros -1.5 runs and -125 for the Athletics +1.5.
The Athletics are 18-16 SU and 16-17 ATS. They’ve gained 2.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 3.5 units against the spread (ATS). Oakland has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. On the other hand, the Astros are 21-15 SU and have gone 17-18 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 3.3 units for moneyline bettors through the early part of the year and 3.4 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Athletics games have an over/under record of 17-14-2 thus far in 2018. The Astros have been a decent under bet with a total record of 13-20-2.
Left-hander Dallas Keuchel will get the start for the visiting Stros. Keuchel is 1-5 with a 3.98 ERA and 33 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with three strikeouts and a 7.71 ERA against Oakland this year (four starts).
The Athletics are handing the ball to lefty Brett Anderson (0-0, 2.84 ERA), who’s got four strikeouts and one walks, as well as a 0.95 WHIP. Anderson has yet to face the Astros this year and did not record a start against them in 2017.
As a unit, Oakland’s pitching staff has given up 4.5 runs per game overall in 2018. The clubs starting pitching staff has a 4.26 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.89 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 8.0 K/9. In 23 divisional games, Athletics starters have an ERA of 4.96 and the bullpens ERA is 4.23.
Oakland’s offense has produced 4.6 runs per contest, including 4.0 per game against divisional foes and 2.8 per game over its last five. The teams hit .209/.244/.366 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Jed Lowrie and Mark Canha have led the charge for the Athletics hitters so far. Lowrie is slashing .353/.405/.603 with eight home runs, 31 RBIs and 16 runs scored, and Canha is hitting .280 with five homers, 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 2.9 runs per game and its starters own a 2.39 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 10.84 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.41, along with a K/9 of 10.04.
The Astros offense has slashed .251/.332/.395 on its way to 4.6 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over the teams last five contests (1-4 SU).
Houston’s hitters have been led by shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve. Correa is slashing .299/.369/.512 with five home runs, 25 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while Altuve is hitting .322/.380/.427 with two homers, 16 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Correa enjoyed batting against left-handed pitchers on the road last season, maintaining a slash line of .407/.458/.630 across 59 such plate appearances (his overall season line was .315/.391/.550).
The Astros have lost 2.6 units and are 5-6 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in four of those games, compared to six that’ve hit the under against lefties. On the other hand, the Athletics have netted 1.3 units and are 8-6 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in four of those games, as opposed to eight that’ve cashed the under.
Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics Pick
,Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Astros have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Athletics have hit 12 over their last 10.
- The Houston defense has allowed two errors over the last 10 games, compared to nine errors for Oakland over its last 10.
- The Astros have lost five of their last six games SU.
