Oakland is 5-1 SU and 6-0 ATS in its last six games vs Houston but still opened as a big underdog in today’s series finale. That A’s are on one of the best runs in the history of the game and have their ace going to the mound, but oddsmakers are still giving the nod to struggling Houston and Justin Verlander. Oakland has won 13 of its last 16 games while the Astros have lost seven of their past eight games.
Astros vs Athletics Matchup Page
Pocket Aces
Fittingly, both teams have the ace of their staff headed to the mound in a game to decide first place in the AL West. Justin Verlander (11-8, 2.52 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) will try to stop the bleeding as the Astros have lost their massive cushion atop the division and are in danger of slipping out of first place today.
Verlander is 1-0 in two starts against the A’s this season and has kept Oakland batters to a .174 average. The 35-year-old from Manakin Sabot, Virginia has been tagged with the loss in four of his last six starts and has a 4.68 ERA in the second half.
Sean Manaea (11-8, 3.44 ERA, 1.04 WHIP) answers for the darlings of the league as they shoot for sole possession of first place. He’s 1-1 in three starts vs the Astros and has a 3.78 ERA and .265 OBA in those games.
Manaea went deep in his last start – 7.2 innings in a win over Seattle. What’s most impressive is that he only threw 89 pitches to get there. The lefty from Indiana State has been outstanding in day games compiling a 6-0 record and a .195 OBA.
Oakland, Not Houston, Has the Better Staff in the Second Half
Everybody just assumes that Houston’s strength is their pitching staff and that’s what sets them apart from other teams. Hold on just a second, say the guys in Oakland.
In the second half of the season, Oakland’s staff has a 2.90 ERA and .223 opponent’s batting average, leading the American League in both categories. Meanwhile, Houston’s team ERA is 3.71 over the same stretch with a .239 OBA.
When you break that down further into day games in the second half, Oakland has a 2.86 ERA and a .215 OBA while Houston has a 4.37 ERA and a .257 OBA.
Any Totals Bettors Out There?
The run total opened at 7.5 for today’s game in Oakland. In the nine games these teams have played against each other since June, the OVER has hit six times. The average combined score in those nine games was 9.55.
The average combined score in Justin Verlander’s last eight starts is 7.5 and the average combined score in Sean Manaea’s last eight starts was 8.75.