The Athletics and the Houston Astros meet Saturday in MLB action from Daikin Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Astros vs Athletics Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Athletics will send out Jacob Lopez for the start here and Lopez is 3-6 with a 4.60 ERA and 75 strikeouts this season. This will be Lopez’s second career start against the Astros. Hunter Brown will get the nod for the Astros here and is 9-4 with a 2.57 ERA and 144 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Athletics, Brown is 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA and 34 strikeouts.
Athletics Recap
The Athletics come into this game looking to add on to their 15-3 blowout win over the Astros from Friday to improve to 44-62 on the year. After this series, the Athletics will head home for a series against the Seattle Mariners.
Athletics Win Back-To-Back Games
Jacob Wilson leads the Athletics with 115 hits, 17 doubles and a .312 batting average while Tyler Soderstrom has 98 hits with 17 doubles, 19 home runs and 60 RBIs this season. Brent Rooker has 112 hits with 23 doubles, 21 home runs and 56 RBIs but also has 104 strikeouts this season while Nick Kurtz has a team-high 23 home runs and 59 RBIs with 18 doubles. Shea Langeliers has 68 hits with 15 home runs and 40 RBIs while Lawrence Butler’s also chipped in 17 stolen bases and 24 doubles as part of his 94 hits as well as 14 home runs and 41 RBIs.
Why the Athletics will win
- The Astros have lost seven of their last eight games as home favorites.
- The road team has won each of the Astros’ last six games.
- The Astros have failed to cover the run line each of their last 12 games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in each of the Astros’ last eight games at Daikin Park.
Athletics Player Prop Facts
- Brent Rooker has hit a home run in each of the Athletics’ last five Saturday games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Gio Urshela has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances at Daikin Park against opponents that held a winning record.
- Jacob Wilson ranks 5th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.312) this season.
Houston Astros Recap
The Houston Astros come into this game looking to rebound from their loss at the hands of the Athletics on Friday to drop to 60-44 on the year. After this series, the Astros will take on the Washington Nationals.
Astros Drop Back-To-Back Games After Winning Four Straight
Jose Altuve has 107 hits including 17 doubles, 17 home runs and 53 RBIs. Jeremy Pena also has 102 hits with 18 doubles, 11 homers and 40 RBIs with 15 stolen bases as well. Jake Meyers has 15 doubles as well and Christian Walker has 13 home runs and 53 RBIs but has also accrued a team-high 114 strikeouts so far this season. Altuve also has 6 stolen bases while Jake Meyers has 14 stolen bases this season. Isaac Paredes also has a team-high 19 home runs with 50 RBIs of his own and Cam Smith has contributed 7 homers and 43 RBIs.
Why the Houston Astros will win
- The Athletics have lost 16 of their last 20 games against AL West opponents.
- The Astros have won 13 of their last 17 games against AL West opponents following a loss.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Jeremy Pena has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances with the Astros as favorites against AL West opponents.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded a Double in each of his last five Saturday appearances at Daikin Park.
- Jake Meyers has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances in night games against AL West teams that held a losing record.
- Hunter Brown ranks T4th in the league for total Strikeouts (144) this season.
Total Runs Facts
- Four of the Astros’ last five games as favorites against the Athletics have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Seven of the Athletics’ last nine road games have gone OVER the total runs line.
Astros vs Athletics Prediction
I’m leaning towards the Astros in this one. I know the Athletics have beat up on Houston in the first couple of games of this series, but historically, Houston has been a strong team against left-handed pitching. Hunter Brown is capable of taking on the stopper role for Houston after a couple of frustrating showings to start the series. I think it’s time for Houston to get on the board, so give me the Astros here.