The Oakland Athletics (52-91) and Houston Astros (93-50) will battle in an AL West ball game on Thursday to kick off a four-game series.
There is not a whole lot on the line in this series. Oakland is already well out of contention, while the Astros are on track to clinch the AL West sooner rather than later.
However, the New York Yankees aren’t completely out of the race for the best record in the AL. So Houston will have the motivation to wrap up the best record and clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
For Oakland, they are simply scouting young players who are receiving opportunities in September. They would like to win without question, but these games don’t mean much for them.
The first pitch is scheduled for 7:20 PM EST on September 15th, 2022, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. Let’s take a look at the Athletics vs Astros odds.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Odds
The Astros standings position is incredible given their 93-50 record. This is one of the best teams in baseball that has somehow been overlooked. Everyone is talking about the Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers, but Houston needs more love.
The Astros are the last team that Oakland players wanted to see on the Athletics schedule right now. Nevertheless, the A’s will still come out and play hard in an effort to earn the upset.
Here is a closer look at the Athletics vs Astros odds.
Matchup Information
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Betting Preview
Starting Pitchers
James Kaprielian (3-9, 4.79) is the scheduled starter. The right-hander has not been effective in 2022 but has the talent to shut down opposing lineups from time to time. However, containing the Astros in Houston is one of the most difficult things to do in baseball.
The Astros offensive MLB stats aren’t as eye-popping as they have been in years past, but this lineup is still extremely effective.
Lance McCullers (3-1, 2.20) is the Astros’ starting pitcher. He makes for one of the most difficult MLB matchups in the game, given his filthy breaking pitches that he works off of his fastball.
Trying to square up McCullers is quite the challenge, even for the best of hitters. So this Athletics’ lackluster lineup will struggle to put any runs on the board.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Picks and Predictions
Is there any reason to believe that Oakland can upset the Athletics vs Astros odds in this game?
Houston enters as an obvious favorite. They have a talented pitcher on the mound, and they have one of the deepest rosters in baseball. Meanwhile, Oakland is in the midst of a rebuild.
The Astros should be able to win this game. But have they been good against the run line?
Houston holds an ATS record of 76-67 on the season, which is good for ninth in MLB. The Athletics are right around the middle of the pack with their 69-73 ATS mark on the year.
The Athletics, who have been underdogs in most of their games, have been decent in terms of covering the spread. Oakland has been especially good on the road, where they boast a 42-29 ATS record.
Houston is 35-35 ATS when playing at their home field. The Astros are also 62-62 ATS as a favorite this season.
Meanwhile, the Athletics are 66-62 ATS when playing as an underdog. They have played so many games as the underdog it has to feel normal at this point. Oakland fully believes they can upset the odds and at least cover the MLB run line.
But I can’t advise you to bet on the Athletics. The A’s are one of MLB’s worst teams and haven’t given us much reason to believe in them. On the other side of the equation, the Astros are in the midst of a four-game winning streak and have covered the spread three times during that span.
Expect Lance McCullers to pitch a dominant game while the offense provides him with enough run support to get the job.
Go ahead and roll with the Houston Astros -1.5 in this Thursday Night AL West affair.
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