Houston (37-20) at Oakland (29-27)
When: Friday, May 31st, 2019
Where: Oakland Coliseum,
Oakland, California
Time: 10:07 ET | TV: NBCS Calif.,
AT&T SportsNet Southwest
Opening Odds: Oakland -130/8.5
The Houston Astros have won the American League West each of the last two seasons and are heavy favorites to three-peat in 2019, but the Oakland A’s are starting to heat up and have been climbing the standings. Oakland has a chance to make a dent in Houston’s 7.5 game lead when they begin a three-game series on Friday night with Mike Fiers going up against the Astros’ Brad Peacock. The A’s saw their 10-game winning streak snapped earlier this week and lost some momentum by dropping the final two games to the Los Angeles Angels including a 12-7 loss in 11 innings on Wednesday. Oakland is still without slugger Khris Davis, who is scheduled to come off the Injured List on Saturday, but still may not be ready this weekend. Shortstop Marcus Semien and 1B Matt Olson are doing their best to make up for that lost production by homering in each of the last two games. Houston, who is 15-5 versus the AL West, are just 4-4 in their last eight games and will begin a seven-game road trip that will take them to Seattle next week. The Astros couldn’t pull off the sweep of the Chicago Cubs this week, dropping Wednesday’s finale 2-1. Houston owns the majors best batting average (.274) and second-best ERA (3.42).
Pitchers: Astros – Brad Peacock (5-2, 3.19 ERA) | Athletics – Mike Fiers (4-3, 5.00)
Peacock could very well have taken home AL Pitcher of the Month if it weren’t for his May 2nd start in Minnesota when he was tagged for eight hits and seven runs over 3.2 innings. Since then, Peacock has allowed a total of one run and 12 hits across 23 innings covering four starts including six scoreless innings against Boston on Saturday. His only other bad outing of the season occurred on April 7th against the Athletics when he surrendered five runs and seven hits in five innings of work.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
Outside of a no-hitter on May 7th against the Cincinnati Reds, Fiers has not been very solid this season, posting a 5.00 ERA in 11 starts. He has allowed six runs – three homers – over this last two starts totaling 12 innings against Detroit and Seattle. Fiers pitched in that April 7th game against Peacock and allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks in 1.2 innings.
Houston is still the team to beat and the pitching matchup in the series opener favors the Astros. Not only has Peacock been terrific in his last four starts, he’s 5-1 with a 1.38 ERA in night games, striking out 46 in 39 innings during those contests. Fiers is not a pitcher I like to back and the Astros should get to him early.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Friday. He is 70-45 +1862 units on the season after a 20-7 run!
Pick: Astros -115
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
BETTING TRENDS:
Astros are 4-0 in their last 4 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 8-1 in their last 9 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 games following a loss.
Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Astros are 11-3 in their last 14 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 7-2 in their last 9 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 21-7 in their last 28 vs. American League West.
Astros are 19-7 in their last 26 games following an off day.
Astros are 41-16 in their last 57 during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 37-15 in their last 52 Friday games.
Astros are 66-29 in their last 95 games on grass.
Astros are 35-16 in their last 51 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 35-16 in their last 51 overall.
Astros are 70-33 in their last 103 road games.
Astros are 4-0 in Peacock’s last 4 starts vs. American League West.
Astros are 10-1 in Peacock’s last 11 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 9-1 in Peacock’s last 10 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Astros are 13-3 in Peacock’s last 16 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 6-2 in Peacock’s last 8 starts with 5 days of rest.
Astros are 20-7 in Peacock’s last 27 starts.
Astros are 19-7 in Peacock’s last 26 starts during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 19-7 in Peacock’s last 26 starts on grass.
Astros are 15-6 in Peacock’s last 21 road starts.
Astros are 7-3 in Peacock’s last 10 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Athletics are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 1 of a series.
Athletics are 5-0 in their last 5 games following an off day.
Athletics are 4-0 in their last 4 Friday games.
Athletics are 4-0 in their last 4 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Athletics are 4-0 in their last 4 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Athletics are 8-1 in their last 9 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 10-2 in their last 12 overall.
Athletics are 10-2 in their last 12 games on grass.
Athletics are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Athletics are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Athletics are 50-23 in their last 73 home games.
Athletics are 4-9 in their last 13 games following a loss.
Athletics are 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 4-0 in Fiers’ last 4 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Athletics are 10-2 in Fiers’ last 12 home starts.
Athletics are 4-1 in Fiers’ last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Athletics are 13-4 in Fiers’ last 17 starts on grass.
Athletics are 6-2 in Fiers’ last 8 starts with 5 days of rest.
Athletics are 7-3 in Fiers’ last 10 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 1-4 in Fiers’ last 5 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 1-5 in Fiers’ last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 4-0 in Astros last 4 road games.
Under is 4-0-1 in Astros last 5 Friday games.
Under is 3-0-1 in Astros last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 6-1 in Astros last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 5-1-2 in Astros last 8 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1-2 in Astros last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1-1 in Astros last 6 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 11-3 in Astros last 14 overall.
Under is 11-3 in Astros last 14 on grass.
Under is 7-2 in Astros last 9 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 games following a loss.
Over is 6-2 in Astros last 8 vs. American League West.
Over is 3-0-1 in Peacock’s last 4 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 2-0-2 in Peacock’s last 4 starts on grass.
Under is 2-0-2 in Peacock’s last 4 starts overall.
Over is 13-3 in Peacock’s last 16 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-2 in Peacock’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 8-3 in Peacock’s last 11 starts vs. American League West.
Over is 5-2-1 in Peacock’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 7-3-1 in Peacock’s last 11 starts with 5 days of rest.
Over is 9-4-1 in Peacock’s last 14 road starts.
Under is 5-1 in Athletics last 6 Friday games.
Over is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 overall.
Over is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 on grass.
Over is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 home games.
Over is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 vs. American League West.
Over is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Under is 8-3 in Athletics last 11 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 29-13 in Athletics last 42 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 13-6-1 in Athletics last 20 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 7-0 in Fiers’ last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Fiers’ last 4 starts vs. American League West.
Over is 6-1 in Fiers’ last 7 starts on grass.
Over is 5-1 in Fiers’ last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 4-1 in Fiers’ last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
Over is 10-3 in Fiers’ last 13 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-2 in Fiers’ last 8 starts overall.
Over is 11-4-1 in the last 16 meetings in Oakland.
Astros are 8-3 in the last 11 meetings in Oakland.
Under is 5-2 in Peacock’s last 7 road starts vs. Athletics.
Under is 5-2 in Peacock’s last 7 starts vs. Athletics.
Over is 18-8-2 in the last 28 meetings.
Astros are 35-16 in the last 51 meetings.
