Sportsbooks of a season-high six straight games, the Houston Astros look to stay hot on their 10-game road trip when they pay a visit to the division rival Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. OVER bettors will be paying close attention to this game, and for good reason. The OVER is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings between Houston and Oakland with an average combined score of 11.5 runs.
Sportsbook opened the Astros as -180 road favorites with a total of 7.5.
- The total has gone UNDER in 13 of the Athletics’ last 17 games at home (avg combined score: 5.41).
- The Astros are 6-0 SU and ATS in their last six games against the Athletics.
- The total has gone OVER in eight of the Astros’ last 10 games (avg combined score: 9.9).
Gerrit Cole and Paul Blackburn are slated to get the start for the Astros and A’s, respectively. Cole (7-1, 2.16 ERA) won his fifth consecutive decision on Thursday, allowing one run and three hits over six innings of work against the Texas Rangers. The 27-year-old notched eight strikeouts in the contest to raise his season total to 124 – the most by an Astro prior to the all-star break since 1996. Cole is 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA in three career starts against the Athletics, with the triumph coming on May 9.
After a lengthy trip to the disabled list, Blackburn (1-0, 1.50) returned from a forearm injury to make his season debut last Thursday and allowed one run and three hits in a win over the Kansas City Royals. The 24-year-old California native made one rehab start with Single-A Stockton before joining Oakland. Blackburn is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA in six career starts at home and will be facing the high-octane Astros offense for the first time.
The A’s will likely receive plenty of betting interest due to their penchant for producing behind Blackburn. Oakland is 5-1 SU in its past six games when Blackburn gets the ball.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
The Oakland Athletics were listed as +152 moneyline underdogs earlier in the day at Sportsbook, while oddsmakers set the Sportsbook total line around 8 earlier at Sportsbook.
OddsShark computer prediction handicapping models run on this game pick a 3.8-3.0 victory for the Athletics. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming MLB matchups here.
Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Oakland Athletics sport a record of 34-33 heading into this matchup, while the Houston Astros sit at 43-25 on the season. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Oakland vs Houston injuries news.
This game puts the Athletics, most recently No. 12 in OddsShark MLB Power Rankings, up against the Astros, who rate a No. 2 in the latest survey.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits the Oakland Athletics' No. 14-rated offense, averaging 4.36 runs per game, against a Houston Astros defense that ranks No. 1 at 3.07 in runs allowed per game. The Athletics have averaged 8.27 hits per game so far, less than Astros batters have averaged on the year (8.88 hits per game).
Pitching and defensive stats are important baseball handicapping betting factors and Oakland has the No. 15-ranked defense. In the other dugout, the Astros own the No. 1 mark in runs allowed.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
The Astros enjoyed a 6-3 victory at the expense of the Athletics on Tuesday, with Lance McCullers throwing 7 innings of 5-hit ball at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
- Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
- Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Houston's last 10 games
- Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- Oakland is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
- Oakland is 6-13 ATS in its last 19 games at home
- Oakland is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Oakland's last 17 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Houston at Oakland, Thursday, June 14
