Oakland Athletics vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Athletics Poised to Continue Dominance Over Injury-Plagued Astros in Upcoming Match-Up

In the upcoming game between the Oakland Athletics and the Houston Astros, the Athletics will be looking to continue their winning streak after a 5-2 victory in the first game of the series. The Astros currently hold a 4-3 lead in the season series. Jacob Lopez will be starting for the Athletics with a 4.60 ERA, while Hunter Brown will be on the mound for the Astros with a 2.57 ERA. The game is scheduled for a 7:10 EST start time. Stay tuned for our prediction on the outcome of this match-up.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Athletics +182 | Astros -202
• Spread: Athletics +1.5 (-122) | Astros -1.5 (+102)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 67%.

Oakland Athletics

Despite the Oakland Athletics likely not making the playoffs this season, they have shown strength in their divisional battles against the Astros, picking up victories including a recent win with Nick Kurtz contributing three hits and an RBI. Kurtz, a 22-year old rookie first baseman, has been a standout player for the team with 19 home runs and 51 RBIs. Jacob Wilson, a 23-year old shortstop and All-Star this season, boasts the fifth-best batting average in baseball at .311. Brent Rooker, a 30-year old veteran DH, leads the team in home runs with 21. Jacob Lopez, a 27-year old left-handed pitcher, will make his 12th start of the season with a 3-6 record and 4.60 ERA. Despite recent struggles, the Athletics continue to showcase their talented roster in hopes of finishing the season strong.

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are currently leading the AL West and recently won four of their last five games before losing in the first game of their current series. They achieved victories against the Mariners in Seattle and swept the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Christian Walker, the team's 34-year old first baseman, contributed with an RBI on a sac-fly in Thursday's game, but the team ultimately lost 5-2. However, Walker has been a valuable addition to the Astros lineup, with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs this season while batting .235. Isaac Paredes, the team's top home run hitter, is out on the 10-day IL, leaving Jose Altuve as the next best power hitter with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs and a .281 batting average. Despite injuries to key players like Paredes and Jeremy Pena, who is batting .322, the Astros continue to compete at a high level. Hunter Brown, a 26-year old right hander, will make his 21st start of the season with a 9-4 record. In his last start, Brown gave up three earned runs in a win over the Mariners, contributing to his 2.57 ERA with 144 strikeouts against 36 walks.

Athletics poised to continue dominance over injury-plagued Astros

The Athletics have demonstrated their competitiveness against the Astros this season with a victory in the first game of the series and two additional wins over Houston. Despite the Astros' strong lineup, injuries have impacted their roster's reliability. Key players like Isaac Parades, with 19 home runs, and Jeremy Pena, batting .322, will be unavailable for the upcoming game. As a result, the Astros will need to adjust their lineup to compensate for these absences. With Lopez set to pitch for the A's, having recently delivered strong performances resulting in wins against the Tigers and Blue Jays, the Athletics are poised to secure another victory on Saturday. Therefore, the Athletics are the favored choice for a win in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]