The Houston Astros will be looking for a wake-up call when they host the AL West division rival Oakland Athletics in an intriguing matchup on Friday night. Now, with the A’s looking to build on their recent winning ways and Houston looking to snap a modest skid, let’s find out where the best betting value lies in this matchup.
Astros vs Athletics Week 1 Odds, Game Preview, and Predictions
Taking this show on the road.#RootedInOakland | @StubHub pic.twitter.com/AMDebO529i
— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) 5 de abril de 2019
- When: Friday, April 05 – 8:10 PM EST
- Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
- TV: ATSW, NSTA
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Opening MLB Odds: Houston -160/Oakland +150 (total 8)
- Starting Pitchers
- Oakland – Frankie Montas – (R, 1-0, 1.50 ERA)
- Houston – Collin McHugh – (R )-1, 3.60 ERA)
Why Bet On Oakland?
Oakland has won five of their last six games and comes into this contest off a commanding 7-3 win over Boston on Thursday. Right-fielder Stephen Piscotty led the way to victory with five RBI and a run scored on four hits. Oakland will hand the ball to right-hander Frankie Montas after he handcuffed the Angels the last time out by limiting them to one run on three hits in 6.0 innings. Oakland is averaging a modest 4.1 runs per game (16th) while limiting the opposition to just 2.9 runs per game to rank ninth in runs allowed. 2018 MLB home run leader Khris Davis has five home runs and 10 RBI over his first 10 games.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Runs/G: 4.77
- Hits /G: 8.67
- Walks /G: 3.23
- Strike Outs /G: 8.42
- Runs/G: 4.13
- Hits /G: 8.20
- Walks /G: 2.87
- Strike Outs /G: 7.64
Why Bet On Houston?
Houston has lost two straight and five of six including a 4-0 shutout loss against Texas on Wednesday night. The Astros have scored just 10 runs over their last half-dozen games after putting five on the board in their season-opening win at Tampa Bay. Houston is batting a major league-worst .095 with runners in scoring position during its 2-5 start.
“The offense has obviously had some good swings and some not-so-good games,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch told the Houston Chronicle. “There’s going to be days where the offense explodes and makes it really tough on the opponents. We’re a week into the season, but it’s not the week we wanted. It doesn’t define us.”
The Astros are averaging just 2.1 runs per game to rank 28th in scoring while allowing 2.9 runs per game defensively to rank 10th in runs allowed. 2017 World Series MVP George Springer is leading the way with two homers and five RBI on eight hits. For this contest, Houston will hand the ball to right-hander Collin McHugh after the 22-year-old hurler limited Tampa bay to two runs on three hits in 5.0 innings of a 3-1 loss on march 30.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Runs/G: 5.01
- Hits /G: 8.71
- Walks /G: 3.45
- Strike Outs /G: 7.58
- Runs/G: 3.32
- Hits /G: 7.18
- Walks /G: 2.56
- Strike Outs /G: 10.46
MLB Betting Trends for Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics
- Oakland is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oakland’s last 7 games
- Oakland is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
- Houston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
- Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston’s last 5 games
Expert Analysis and Prediction
Houston might be playing at home in this divisional rivalry, but Oakland is playing better baseball and they’ve got the best starter in this affair in the gifted Frankie Montas. The A’s are 5-1 in Montas’ last six starts and 4-0 in Montas’ last four road starts versus a team with a losing record. Houston has gone 0-6 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter and 1-4 in Collin McHugh’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record. I’m going with Oakland in a nail-biter here and you should too!
Pick: Oakland 4 Houston 2
