Oakland Athletics (19-23) vs. Houston Astros (15-25)
May 14, 2024 8:10 pm EDT
The Line: Houston Astros -179 / Oakland Athletics +151; Over/Under: +8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Oakland Athletics and the Houston Astros meet Tuesday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. Here’s a Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics prediction. This will be the second installment in a four-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Oakland Athletics Betting Preview
The A’s played the Seattle Mariners in their weekend set. Oakland won 8-1 on Saturday but otherwise dropped the other two games 8-1 and 8-4. On Monday versus the Astros, the Athletics had nine hits in a 9-2 loss. Ross Stripling managed 5.0 innings in the start with two earned on four hits and two walks.
In the starting pitcher slot for the Tuesday game two, the A’s will go with JP Sears. This year over eight starts Sears is 3-2 with a 4.20 ERA and 33 Ks in 45.0 innings. Sears is 14-19 with a 4.32 ERA in 57 games (51 starts) over his career.
Houston Astros Betting Preview
Over on the Houston side, they played the Detroit Tigers in their weekend set. Houston lost 8-2 in the Saturday game but took wins 5-2 Friday and 9-3 otherwise to take the series. On Monday the Astros posted four runs in the eighth inning to seal the victory. Starter Spencer Arrighetti lasted 5.0 innings with two earned runs on five hits and two walks.
It’ll be Ronel Blanco in the starting pitcher role for the Astros in game two. In his seven starts this year Blanco is 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA and 41 Ks in 44.1 frames. Blanco is 6-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 31 career games (14 starts).
Athletics vs Astros Injury Notes
Athletics 2B Zack Gelof (oblique) played a full game at second base with Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday.
Astros SP Jose Urquidy (forearm) posted 2.2 innings with three runs on three hits and a walk in his first rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
Why the Houston Astros will win
- The Athletics have lost each of their last eight games at Minute Maid Park against AL West opponents that held a losing record.
- The Astros have won 17 of their last 21 games against the Athletics.
- The Athletics have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six road games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Astros have covered the run line in four of their last five games.
- The Athletics have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games at Minute Maid Park against American League opponents that held a losing record.
- The Athletics have lost the first inning in each of their last five Tuesday games against American League opponents.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Alex Bregman has hit at least one home run in each of the Astros’ last two games against the Athletics.
- Kyle Tucker has recorded at least one RBI in six of his last seven appearances against AL opponents.
- Jose Altuve has scored at least one run in six of his last seven appearances against the Athletics.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one hit in each of the Astros’ last 10 games against AL opponents that held a losing record.
- Chas McCormick has recorded at least one total base in each of his last nine appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Kyle Tucker has recorded a Double in three of the Astros’ last four night games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one Single in 15 of the Astros’ last 16 games as favorites against AL opponents.
- Kyle Tucker ranks 1st in the league in Home Runs (13) this season.
Oakland Athletics Player Prop Facts
- Shea Langeliers has hit a home run in two of his last three appearances in night games against AL teams that held a losing record.
- Shea Langeliers has recorded at least one RBI in three of the Athletics’ last four road games against the Astros.
- JP Sears has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last three road appearances against AL opponents.
- Shea Langeliers has scored at least one run in each of his last seven Tuesday appearances.
- Brent Rooker has recorded at least one hit in each of the Athletics’ last seven road games.
- Brent Rooker has recorded at least one total base in each of the Athletics’ last seven games as underdogs.
- Brent Rooker has recorded a Double in three of the Athletics’ last four road games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Brent Rooker has recorded at least one Single in each of the Athletics’ last seven games.
- Brent Rooker ranks T7th in the league in Home Runs (10) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Houston Astros rank T1st in the league for hits this season (374).
- The Houston Astros rank 1st in the league for batting average this season (.263).
- The Oakland Athletics rank T28th in the league for strikeouts against this season (404).
- The Oakland Athletics rank 4th in the league for home runs this season (55).
Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics Prediction
I’ll probably try Houston. Blanco has gotten two victories over his last three starts so he’s pitching pretty well overall lately. In that trio Blanco has a total of seven earned runs in 17.1 innings on 14 hits and eight walks. As for Sears, he’s got just four earned in 12.0 innings over his last two starts (both wins) but did have seven earned in 6.1 frames during a loss to the Orioles on April 27.
On Monday Houston gave up a lot of hits and benefitted from a handful of A’s miscues. Alex Bregman bagged a pair of homers, four RBI, three hits and three runs in a great offensive outing, and the pitching staff kept Oakland’s bats in check for the most part. I like Houston to keep it going on Tuesday.
