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From Minute Maid Park in Houston, we have an AL West matchup between the Athletics and Astros. First place in the AL West is the Astros, who are 77-66, while the Athletics are 4th in the division with a record of 62-82.
Houston comes into this one as the heavy favorite, with their money line odds sitting at -185 compared to the Athletics at +155. Tuesday’s over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs, and NSPCA will be televising this one.
Oakland vs. Houston Key Information
- Teams: Athletics at Astros
- Where: Minute Maid Park Houston
- Date: Tuesday, September 10th
- Betting Odds HOU -185 | OAK +155 O/U 8.5
The Athletics Can Win If…
Right-hander Osvaldo Bido is getting the start for the Athletics today as he faces the Astros on the road. He has made 16 appearances this year and nine starts. Bido’s ERA for the season is 3.41, along with a record of 5-3. Looking at his overall numbers, Bido has a WHIP of 1.09 and has issued 3.69 walks per nine innings compared to 8.95 strikeouts. Bido has made four quality starts this year, and he is coming off an outing in which he didn’t allow a run out of the bullpen. In that outing, he went two innings and gave up one hit and a walk. He didn’t allow a homer in that appearance.
As a team, the Athletics are averaging just 4.1 runs per game, which is 26th in the league. However, they have been a good home run hitting team this season and are batting a collective .234, which is 19th in the league. Oakland’s offense is also one of the worst in the league when it comes to striking out, averaging nine strikeouts per game.
Brent Rooker has been the team’s top offensive player this season, as he is batting .299 with 35 home runs and 99 RBIs. Rooker has also been hot of late, hitting .375 over his last six games with two homers. Shea Langeliers has also been a good power threat for the Athletics, as he has 25 homers this season, but he is batting just .223.
- The Athletics are 4-6 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Athletics are 2-3 vs. the run line.
- Oakland has an over/under record of 7-3 in their last ten games.
- The Athletics have an average of 3.2 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten road games, the Athletics are 6-4
- Looking back across the Athletics last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
- Oakland has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Athletics have averaged 6.3 runs per game on offense
The Astros Can Win If…
Right-hander Spencer Arrighetti gets the start for the Astros today as he faces the Athletics at home. Arrighetti has made 25 starts this season and has a record of 7-12 along with an ERA of 4.82. In his 25 appearances, he has turned in eight quality starts and is averaging 10.87 strikeouts per nine innings. Arrighetti’s WHIP for the season is 1.43. The last time he took the mound, he gave up three earned runs in two-thirds of an inning of work, taking the loss. Before that outing, he had won two straight starts.
Yordan Alvarez has been the Astros’ top hitter this season, as he is batting .311 with 32 home runs, which is 9th in the league. Alvarez also has the 2nd most RBIs on the team at 80. Catcher Yainer Diaz has also been a big power threat, as he has 16 homers and is batting .299. Alex Bregman has 22 homers, but his batting average is just .259.
Jose Altuve has been on a tear of late, going 10/20 in his last five games with a home run and three RBIs. This has helped him move his season batting average up to .301. Altuve and Diaz are also on some nice hitting streaks, with Altuve at five games and Diaz at three.
- The Astros are 6-4 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Astros are 2-3 vs. the run line.
- Houston has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
- The Astros have an average of 6.0 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten home games, the Astros are 3-7
- Looking back across the Astros last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
- Houston has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Astros have averaged 3.9 runs per game on offense
Chas McCormick’s Resurgence Sparks Astros’ Offense
The Houston Astros are back in action, looking to build on their recent success as they open a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics. After seeing their six-game home winning streak come to an end on Sunday, the Astros are eager to keep the momentum going. One player who’s been a key part of that surge? Outfielder Chas McCormick.
McCormick has been on fire since his recent recall from Triple-A Sugar Land, hitting an incredible .409 over his last six games. In that stretch, he’s notched three multi-hit games, including a standout three-hit performance on Sunday. McCormick’s resurgence couldn’t come at a better time for Houston, especially with All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker sidelined by a shin injury.
Astros manager Joe Espada is thrilled with how McCormick has turned things around. “He’s starting to believe that it’s in there, and that’s what you want,” Espada said. “He looks really good right now.” McCormick’s renewed confidence at the plate, especially in two-strike situations, has earned him more playing time, and he’s making the most of it by driving the ball to all fields.
Spencer Arrighetti: Ready for a Bounce-Back Performance
The Astros will send rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (7-12, 4.82 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday. Arrighetti, who was named American League Rookie of the Month for August, has been a bright spot for Houston. Last month, he put up a dominant 1.95 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.
However, his last outing was one to forget. In a rough start against the Cincinnati Reds, Arrighetti allowed nine runs (three earned) in just two-thirds of an inning — his shortest start of the season. He’ll be looking to rebound in a big way against the A’s, a team he’s had mixed results against this year. In three starts versus Oakland, he’s posted a 5.06 ERA, though he did earn his first career win against them back in May with a strong five-inning performance.
A’s Turn to Osvaldo Bido
The Oakland Athletics are countering with right-hander Osvaldo Bido (5-3, 3.41 ERA), one of the brighter spots in their rotation. Bido has been on a roll lately, going 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last six appearances. The A’s have won each of his last five starts, and they’re hoping he can continue that streak against the Astros.
Bido’s last outing against Houston was a gem. He allowed just one run over five innings while striking out six, leading Oakland to an 8-2 victory on July 23. Bido has shown he can handle pressure and limit baserunners, which will be crucial as he faces an Astros lineup that can strike quickly. His most recent win came in a strong outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he allowed just one run over five innings in a 3-1 victory.
Lawrence Butler: A’s Breakout Star
Oakland’s offense has been carried lately by Lawrence Butler, who’s been on an absolute tear. Butler extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a 1-for-4 performance in Sunday’s 9-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers. During this streak, Butler is hitting .392 with eight home runs and 14 RBIs.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay has been impressed by Butler’s consistency and preparation, crediting the strong relationship Butler has developed with hitting coach Darren Bush. “He’s really enjoying playing the game,” Kotsay said. “He’s learning how to prepare every day, and it’s paying off.”
What to Expect in This Series
The Astros (77-66) are looking to get back on track after their home winning streak was snapped, and with McCormick heating up at the plate and Arrighetti aiming for a bounce-back start, they’re in a strong position to do just that. Houston is eyeing a postseason spot, and every game counts as they look to secure their place in October.
The Athletics (62-82), on the other hand, are looking to play spoiler. With Osvaldo Bido pitching well and Lawrence Butler swinging a hot bat, Oakland will try to make this series competitive, even though they’re out of the playoff race.
Conclusion
Chas McCormick’s resurgence and Spencer Arrighetti’s quest to rebound make the Houston Astros favorites in this series opener against the Athletics. Meanwhile, the A’s will lean on the steady hand of Osvaldo Bido and the red-hot Lawrence Butler to try to pull off an upset. Both teams have something to prove, and this game will set the tone for what could be an exciting series as the regular season winds down.
The Lean
As the Astros host the Athletics today, we are leaning towards the Astros picking up a win at home. We also like the over in this one, as this is projected to be the 5th highest-scoring game of the day, and this one has our 3rd highest total home run projection. Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti has the 2nd best strikeout projection among today’s starters.
