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MLB

Astros vs. Athletics Picks, Predictions, Odds

Michael Crosson
Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert
3 minute read

MLB regular season action resumes on Thursday night with Game 1 of a four-game AL West set between the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics.  Coverage begins from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum at 9:40 p.m. ET on MLBtv.

The Athletics are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games. (Getty)

HOU @ OAK Odds

  • Full Game
  • F5
  • F3
  • Moneyline
  • Total
  • Runline
Final
Houston Astros 965 Astros France (R)
-188 N/A -210 N/A -200 -185 -198 N/A -225  
Oakland Athletics 966 Athletics Harris (L)
+158 N/A +155 N/A +150 +150 +156 N/A +172  
Final
Houston Astros 965 Astros France (R)
o8.5 -122 N/A o4.5 -115 o4.5 -115 o4.5 -110 o4.5 -105 o4.5 -120 N/A o8.5 -114  
Oakland Athletics 966 Athletics Harris (L)
u8.5 even N/A u4.5 -115 u4.5 -115 u4.5 -120 u4.5 -125 u4.5 -106 N/A u8.5 -106  
Final
Houston Astros 965 Astros France (R)
-1.5 -118 N/A -0.5 -140 -0.5 -145 -1.5 +125 -0.5 -145 N/A N/A -1.5 -125  
Oakland Athletics 966 Athletics Harris (L)
+1.5 -102 N/A +0.5 +105 +0.5 +115 +1.5 -165 +0.5 +115 N/A N/A +1.5 -102  
Final
Houston Astros 965 Astros France (R)
-188 N/A -200 -180 -180 N/A +112 N/A -225  
Oakland Athletics 966 Athletics Harris (L)
+158 N/A +145 +150 +140 N/A -136 N/A +172  
Final
Houston Astros 965 Astros France (R)
o8.5 -122 N/A o2.5 -110 o2.5 -110 o2.5 -115 N/A o2.5 -112 N/A o8.5 -114  
Oakland Athletics 966 Athletics Harris (L)
u8.5 even N/A u2.5 -120 u2.5 -120 u2.5 -115 N/A u2.5 -108 N/A u8.5 -106  
Final
Houston Astros 965 Astros France (R)
-1.5 -118 N/A -0.5 -105 -0.5 +105 -0.5 even N/A N/A N/A -1.5 -125  
Oakland Athletics 966 Athletics Harris (L)
+1.5 -102 N/A +0.5 -130 +0.5 -135 +0.5 -130 N/A N/A N/A +1.5 -102  

The Astros are listed as steep -200 favorites over Oakland in this contest, tied with the Braves for the heaviest moneyline favorite on the board regarding Thursday’s MLB slate.

The total for this matchup is stationed at OU 8.5, which likewise, is the largest over-under on tonight’s MLB board, as the oddsmakers appear to be bracing for a potential blowout.

HOUSTON ASTROS vs. OAKLAND ATHLETICS BETTING PREDICTION

The line currently indicates that Houston vs. Oakland has the looks of the most lopsided matchup in the MLB tonight, and for a good reason, as the worst team in baseball, the 27-41 Oakland A’s will send another struggling arm to the mound tonight in Hogan Harris.

Harris has started four games for Oakland this season, and in those outings, he’s allowed 16 runs in 21 innings surmounting to a miserable 6.86 ERA and 1.62 WHIP.

To be fair, Harris has been more of a bullpen guy since getting called up, but truth be told, he hasn’t been very good in those situations either, highlighted by the left-hander surrendering 18 runs in 26 innings across six relief appearances this season (6.23 ERA, 1.35 WHIP).

The Astros will also send a rather inexperienced starting pitcher to the hill in this matchup, as 28-year-old right hander J.P. France gets the ball for his 13th start of the year for Houston, currently boasting a career 4-3 record to go along with a 3.31 ERA.

France certainly hasn't been perfect since joining Houston. However, the Astros have proven very willing to throw him into the fire against explosive lineups, and he continues to perform at a consistent level, highlighted by four of his last five starts coming against Top 10 scoring offenses, while still managing to hold a solid 3.00 ERA and 1.23 WHIP during that span.

Tonight’s matchup should feel like a breath of fresh air for France, though, as he’ll finally get the chance to take a crack at an Oakland’ lineup that ranks dead-last in the league in both scoring and team batting average (3.6 RPG, .221 AVG).

The Astros have posted a perfect record of 6-0 in six matchups against Oakland this season – blowing out the A’s by a combined score of 31-9 in those games.

Take nothing away from the fact that Oakland enters tonight’s contest as winners of two straight. However, the A’s have strung together three straight wins on just one lone occasion this season, stretching across series against Pittsburgh and Milwaukee – and it’s tough to imagine them accomplishing a similar feat against a dangerous division rival like Houston.

Score Prediction: Astros 7, Athletics 3
Best Bet: Astros -1.5 (-120)

HOUSTON ASTROS vs. OAKLAND ATHLETICS BETTING RESOURCES

Date: Thursday, July 20, 2023
Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Location: Oakland, California
TV-Time: MLBtv, 9:40 p.m. ET
Matchup
Expert Picks

HOUSTON ASTROS vs. OAKLAND ATHLETICS BETTING STATS

Houston Astros
SU: 53-43
ATS: 49-47
O/U: 48-48

Oakland Athletics
SU: 27-71
ATS: 47-51
O/U: 53-43-1

Straight Up (SU), Against the Spread (ATS), Over-Under (O/U)
Points Per Game (PPG), Opponents Points Per Game (OPPG)

The Astros are 7-0 SU in their last seven games against Oakland. (Getty)

HOUSTON ASTROS vs. OAKLAND ATHLETICS BETTING TRENDS

  • The Astros are 7-0 SU in their last seven games against Oakland.
  • The Astros are 8-3 SU in their last 11 road games.
  • The total has gone OVER in four of Oakland's last six games.
  • The A's are 2-8 SU in their last 10 games.
  • The total has gone UNDER in four of Oakland's last six games against Houston.
  • The total has gone OVER in nine of Oakland's last 11 home games.

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Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson
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