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Athletics at Astros: MLB Series Betting Preview

The Oakland Athletics clash with the Houston Astros in a three-game series at Minute Maid Park this weekend. Oakland entered the 2020 season as longshots to win it all, coming in at +2500, but its stock has risen. Current odds for winning the World Series have the Athletics’ moneyline positioned at +800. 

Ironically, +800 is exactly where the Astros’ moneyline was perched before the 2020 season officially started. Now the Astros, who played in two of the last three Fall Classics, have dropped to +1300. All of the updated MLB betting lines can be taken advantage of when you visit our sportsbook

Robbie Grossman of the Oakland Athletics is congratulated by Stephen Piscotty after Grossman hit
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 09: Robbie Grossman #8 of the Oakland Athletics is congratulated by Stephen Piscotty #25 after Grossman hit a solo home run against the Houston Astros in the bottom of the second inning at RingCentral Coliseum on August 09, 2020 in Oakland, California. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images/AFP

Oakland has surprised MLB by compiling the best record in the American League, sitting atop the West. Meanwhile, Houston’s roster resembles an infirmary, and the Astros are battling through injuries to stay in the playoff race. 

The Astros recently lost 2019 AL Rookie of the Year, Yordan Alvarez, for the season to a nasty knee injury. Houston should have two-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander, and a few other key players, back in September. That won’t help in this series vs. the Oakland A’s.      

(Update: The series was scheduled to start Friday. However, both teams took the field and went to the foul lines on Jackie Robinson Day. Martin Maldonado laid a No. 42 jersey in the lefty batters’ box and Marcus Semien laid an A’s version in the righty box. After a moment of silence, both teams exited the field.)

Matchup Edge

The Houston Astros are hitting .244, ranking 15th in MLB. The Oakland A’s are ranked near the bottom in that category, coming in at 25th with a wimpy .223 average. Despite these middling to cringeworthy statistics, both the Astros and the A’s rank in the top-five for total runs scored. Houston has scored 166 runs (3rd) and Oakland has scored 159 runs (5th). The teams are finding ways to get runs on the board, in spite of their relatively poor batting results.

The A’s have the overall edge in pitching, sporting a team ERA of 3.35, 4th best in MLB. The Astros show up in 11th place, with a 4.29 ERA. However, Houston has more quality starts (13) than Oakland (8), so starting pitching will play a major role. 

Probable Starters

The starters in Game #1 will see the Athletics throw RHP Chris Bassitt to face the Astros’ RHP Lance McCullers. Bassitt and McCullers are evenly matched.  

Chris Bassit has a 2-1 record with a respectable 2.97 ERA and 28 strikeouts thus far in 2020. Oakland’s unusually shoddy defense ruined Bassit’s last outing, contributing to two unearned runs for the Angels, who won 4-3. Bassit has gone at least five innings in all five of his starts for the A’s this season. 

Since getting blown up for eight earned runs vs the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 5, Lance McCullers has rebounded well. McCullers is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA and a WHIP of 0.91 in three games since his desert implosion. The Astros have won both of the games that Lance has started in Minute Maid Park in 2020.

Game #2 will feature Frankie Montas vs. Zack Greinke and the finale will see Jesus Luzardo against Framber Valdez.

Head-to-Head  

The Athletics have dominated the Astros, winning eight out of the last 10 against their AL West rivals. Oakland has won the last six meetings with Houston. The A’s swept a three-game set in Minute Maid Park in September, and another at the Coliseum this August. The Astros were outscored 42-17 over the course of that six-game shellacking by the A’s. 

Oakland is being gifted 1½ runs in the first game, Bassitt vs McCullers. It might be wise to capitalize on that gift yourself. Putting a chunk of change on the Athletics in game one seems to be a reasonable sports bet. Betting $175 on Oakland +1 ½ (-175), earns you a cool hundred bucks, just for making a few clicks.         

  • BetUS MLB Free Pick: Oakland Athletics + 1 ½ (-175), Game 1  

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