Houston (78-43) at Oakland (68-52)
When: Thursday, August 15th, 2019
Where: Oakland Coliseum,
Oakland, CA
Time: 10:07 ET | TV: NBCS California
Opening Odds: Houston -115/9.5
The two American League Wild Cards appears to be coming down to four teams – the loser of the AL Central race (Indians or Twins), the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland A’s. Thursday night begins a brutal nine-game homestand for the A’s, who are two games behind the Rays for the second wild card spot. Coming to town are the first place Houston Astros for the first of four, then Oakland will host the New York Yankees next week before finishing up with two against the San Francisco Giants. The A’s have not fared well this season against the Astros, losing nine of the 11 meetings thus far and are a distant second behind Houston in the AL West (9.5 games). Matt Chapman helped Oakland gain a two-game split with the Giants this week with two solo homers in Wednesday’s 9-5 win to raise his season totals to 27. Houston had a tough time at the Chicago White Sox this week, dropping two of three including a 13-9 decision on Wednesday despite collecting 15 hits. Yuli Gurriel went 3-for-4 with two homers and three RBI and is 13-for-28 with five homers, 15 RBI and 11 runs over the past seven games. Newcomer Aaron Sanchez will pitch for Houston against Oakland’s Mike Fiers.
Pitchers: Astros – Aaron Sanchez (5-14, 5.60 ERA) | Athletics – Mike Fiers (11-3, 3.30)
Sanchez will make his third start with Houston since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays and they couldn’t have gone better. He started the combined no-hitter against Seattle on August 3rd, then allowed one run on three hits over five innings in earning the win against the Orioles on Saturday. Sanchez is 1-2 with a 5.12 ERA in six career appearances (four starts) against the A’s.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
Fiers is unbeaten in his last 17 starts, a stretch that began with a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on May 7th and threw seven scoreless innings while beating the Chicago White Sox last Friday. The A’s have won Fiers’ last four starts including a win over Houston on July 23rd in which the veteran right allowed two runs and four hits over six innings. Fiers is 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA in six career starts against the Astros.
I know the A’s have had trouble with the Astros this season but Fiers has been really good this season and helped beat Houston back on July 23rd. This weekend’s series means more to Oakland and I can see them getting a nice start in the opener.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Thursday. He is 109-76 +2113 units on the season after a 10-3 run!
Pick: A’s +114
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
BETTING TRENDS:
Astros are 5-0 in their last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 games following a loss.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 41-12 in their last 53 vs. American League West.
Astros are 39-12 in their last 51 during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 16-5 in their last 21 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 19-7 in their last 26 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 40-17 in their last 57 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 7-3 in their last 10 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 37-16 in their last 53 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Astros are 60-29 in their last 89 overall.
Astros are 60-29 in their last 89 games on grass.
Astros are 2-5 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Athletics are 6-1 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Athletics are 13-3 in their last 16 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 19-7 in their last 26 home games.
Athletics are 8-3 in their last 11 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Athletics are 5-2 in their last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 2-5 in their last 7 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 games following a win.
Athletics are 4-0 in Fiers’ last 4 starts vs. American League West.
Athletics are 4-0 in Fiers’ last 4 starts.
Athletics are 9-1 in Fiers’ last 10 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 7-1 in Fiers’ last 8 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 5-1 in Fiers’ last 6 home starts.
Athletics are 5-1 in Fiers’ last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
Athletics are 9-2 in Fiers’ last 11 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Athletics are 4-1 in Fiers’ last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
Athletics are 7-2 in Fiers’ last 9 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Athletics are 22-7 in Fiers’ last 29 starts on grass.
Athletics are 6-2 in Fiers’ last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 8-2 in Astros last 10 vs. American League West.
Under is 10-3 in Astros last 13 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 12-4 in Astros last 16 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 11-4 in Astros last 15 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 8-3 in Astros last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 5-2-1 in Astros last 8 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 10-4 in Astros last 14 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-4 in Astros last 13 Thursday games.
Under is 5-1 in Athletics last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1-1 in Athletics last 6 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1-1 in Athletics last 6 overall.
Under is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 4-1-1 in Athletics last 6 on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 home games.
Under is 7-2 in Athletics last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 3-1-1 in Athletics last 5 games following a win.
Under is 7-0 in Fiers’ last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 7-1 in Fiers’ last 8 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Fiers’ last 6 starts during game 1 of a series.
Under is 9-2 in Fiers’ last 11 starts overall.
Under is 4-1 in Fiers’ last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
Under is 8-2 in Fiers’ last 10 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Under is 8-2 in Fiers’ last 10 starts on grass.
Under is 7-2 in Fiers’ last 9 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-2 in Fiers’ last 7 home starts.
Over is 9-4 in Fiers’ last 13 starts vs. American League West.
Astros are 21-7 in the last 28 meetings in Oakland.
Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
Astros are 40-16 in the last 56 meetings.
