An AL West rivalry will be on display when the Houston Astros (53-43) and Oakland Athletics (27-71) kickstart a four-game series at Oakland Coliseum on Thursday.
- Astros vs Athletics Game Info
- Astros vs Athletics Odds & Spread
- Astros vs Athletics Betting Trends
- Astros vs Athletics Prediction & Pick
- Astros vs Athletics Best Bet
Astros vs Athletics Game Info
- Date:'Thursday, July 20, 2023
- Time:'9:40 p.m. ET
- Venue:'Oakland Coliseum — Oakland, California
- Coverage:'MLB. TV
This matchup marks the sixth outing of the Astros' nine-game road trip after splitting a two-game series with the Colorado Rockies to begin the week. On the other side, the Athletics aim for just their second three-game winning streak of the 2023 campaign following back-to-back wins over the Boston Red Sox.
Astros vs Athletics Odds & Spread
- Moneyline:'HOU: (-220) | OAK: (+184)
- Spread:'HOU: -1.5 (-128) | OAK: +1.5 (+106)
- Total:'8.5 — Over: (-115) | Under: (-105)
The Astros enter this contest as road favorites on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 9:40 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 8.5 runs with the Over being favored at -115 odds.
Astros vs Athletics Betting Trends
- Houston is 8-3 straight up (SU) in its last 11 road games.
- Oakland is 4-8 SU in its last 12 home games against Houston.
- The total has hit the Under in four of Houston's last six games against Oakland.
- The total has hit the Under in seven of Oakland's last 10 games against the AL West.
Astros vs Athletics Prediction & Pick
It turns out that the three guarantees in life are death, taxes, and the Astros owning the Athletics. This AL West rivalry hasn't been close this season as Houston was the victor in each of the six previous matchups. The Astros picked up each win by multi-run margins, too, outscoring the A's by an average of 3.7 runs.
It's going to be even tougher for the Athletics to turn around now that they must face J.P. France. The Astros' rookie starting pitcher hasn't lost since June 23, playing to a 2.60 ERA and 2-0 re cord in his last three starts.
At the same time, fellow rookie SP Hogan Harris' presence could be detrimental to the A's. After beginning the season with a 2-1 record with a 4.45 ERA in six games, Harris is 0-2 with an abysmal 9.64 ERA in his latest four outings.
The Athletics' wins over the Red Sox were nice and all, but it's time for them to be brought back to Earth. The Astros clearly have the A's number and playing on the road won't prevent them from continuing that dominance. With eight wins in its last dozen trips to Oakland Coliseum, look for Houston to win again.
Final Score Prediction:'Astros: 7 | Athletics: 3
Astros vs Athletics Best Bet
Taking the Over on the Astros' 5-run total is a no-brainer. For starters, they have one of the better attacks in the Majors, averaging 4.71 runs per game (No. 12). That offense was on display during the previous Houston-Oakland matchups this season, highlighted by the Astros averaging 5.2 runs in those contests.
With opponents scoring an average of nine runs in Harris' previous four games, the Astros' bats don't have an excuse not to be productive this evening.