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The red-hot Houston Astros will look to continue their impressive start when they host the AL West rival Oakland Athletics on Friday at Minute Maid Park. Houston took Game 1 of a three-game set on Thursday after sweeping Oakland on the road in a four-game series to start the 2021 campaign.

With the Astros looking to send another strong message to their division rivals and the A’s looking to snap out of their ugly start, let’s find out where the best betting value lies in this affair so you can make your bets against their MLB odds.

MLB Betting Odds Prediction – Red-Hot Houston Astros Host Oakland A’s

Oakland A’s (1-7) Vs Houston Astros (6-1) Game Info

When: Friday, April 9, 2021, at 8:10 p.m. ET
Where: Minute Maid Park
TV: NBCSCA, ATT SportsNet-SW+

Starting Pitchers

Oakland – Sean Manaea – LHP – (0-1, 9.64 ERA, 4 SO)
Houston- Lance McCullers Jr. – RHP – (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 7 SO)

MLB Odds

Reeling A’s Free Fallin’

Oakland has been a complete mess this season and come into this matchup as the only one-win team in the majors. The A’s fell to 1-7 on the season by losing against Houston on Thursday, 6-2. Pinch-hitter Stephen Piscotty went 1-for-2 with a double and one RBI while pinch hitter Jed Lowrie went 1-for-1 with an RBI. Unfortunately, starter Cole Irving gave up four runs on five hits, including two homers, in 5.1 innings of work.

“We’ve been going through it for a while now,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “Everybody wants to be the guy that wants to get the big hit. Sometimes you get a little anxious. You’ve got to keep working and pressing forward.”

In Friday’s Game 2 matchup Oakland will hand the ball to left-hander Sean Manaea. Manaea gave up five runs on six hits and three walks in 4.2 innings against Houston on April 4.

Astros Look to Continue Red-Hot Start

Houston has looked phenomenal in getting off to a stellar 6-1 start. On Thursday, Carlos Correa, Yordan Álvarez and Altuve homered while Cristian Javier tossed five scoreless innings. Houston has hit at least one home run in every game this season and leads the majors with 15.

“This team can hit, and they worked hard during spring training,” manager Dusty Baker said. “I’ve never seen guys hit so much… These guys they enjoy hitting.”

On Friday, Houston will hand the ball to veteran Lance McCullers. In his first start this year against Oakland, the right-hander limited the A’s to one run on two hits in 5.0 innings of work. McCullers is making first start at home before fans since July 29, 2018.

Expert Analysis and Prediction

There’s absolutely no reason to overthink this pick. Houston has been superior to Oakland in every way this season and has the far more explosive lineup – and the better starter on the mound in this affair.

Oakland has gone1-5 in their last 6 games as an underdog and 1-6 in their last 7 games following a loss. Conversely, Houston has gone 7-1 in their last 8 vs. American League West, 6-1 in their last 7 games overall and 61-25 in their last 86 home games.

Keep it simple. The Astros win big – again!

Pick: Houston 8 Oakland 2

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