Houston (74-49) at Oakland (74-49)
When: Sunday, August 19th 2018
Where: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA
Time: 4:05 ET | TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest,
NBCS California
Opening Odds: Houston -142/7.5
The Oakland A’s have done the nearly impossible – they’ve caught the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West – but their work is far from over. Oakland looks for the three-game sweep and sole-possession of first when they host the Houston Astros for the finale on Sunday afternoon. With an extra-innings victory in the series opener Friday and an easy 7-1 win Saturday, the Athletics improved to 40-13 since the middle of June to tie the defending champs atop the division. Matt Olson delivered the walk-off homer in the series opener and carried the momentum with two hits, two runs and an RBI on Saturday. Trevor Cahill, who is almost unhittable at home, allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings for and Oakland team that cut its ERA since the All-Star break to 2.90 – tops in the majors in that span. Lefty Sean Manaea will try and help his team record a sweep when he goes up against Houston ace Justin Verlander. The Astros right-hander will be making his third attempt at career win No. 200. Houston is 7-12 since second baseman Jose Altuve (knee) last played a game July 25th, but the reigning MVP is set to begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Fresno. The A’s and Astros meet once more for a three-game series at Houston from August 27-29.
Pitchers: Astros – Justin Verlander (11-8, 2.52 ERA) | Athletics – Sean Manaea (11-8, 3.44)
Verlander is coming off a solid outing – but a loss – against the Rockies in his second attempt to reach 200 wins. He allowed just two runs while striking out 11 in six innings of a 5-1 loss. In his previous start against Seattle, the seven-time All-Star allowed six runs – three homers- in just two-plus innings of work. Verlander blanked the Athletics over six innings in a matchup July 10th at Minute Maid Park and is 11-6 with a 2.55 ERA in 19 career meetings.
Manaea bounced back from a rough outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers to limit the Seattle Mariners to two runs in 7.2 innings last time out. Manaea allowed three runs and seven hits over four innings opposite Verlander in Houston last month. He has a 2.82 ERA lifetime versus the Astros.
The Astros have the pitching edge in this one, but they also had it in the first two games of this series. Manaea is the ace of this staff and the A’s are a confident bunch right now. I’ll take them as a home dog for sure.
Pick: A’s +140
BETTING TRENDS:
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Astros are 37-16 in their last 53 road games.
- Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 1-5 in their last 6 games following a loss.
- Astros are 2-10 in their last 12 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 1-6 in their last 7 during game 3 of a series.
- Astros are 1-7 in their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 1-7 in their last 8 overall.
- Astros are 1-7 in their last 8 games on grass.
- Astros are 0-6 in their last 6 vs. American League West.
- Astros are 0-5 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Astros are 0-5 in their last 5 Sunday games.
- Astros are 13-3 in Verlander’s last 16 road starts.
- Astros are 4-1 in Verlander’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 12-4 in Verlander’s last 16 starts vs. American League West.
- Astros are 2-5 in Verlander’s last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Astros are 1-4 in Verlander’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 1-5 in Verlander’s last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Athletics are 5-0 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Athletics are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Athletics are 15-3 in their last 18 vs. American League West.
- Athletics are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Athletics are 7-2 in their last 9 during game 3 of a series.
- Athletics are 40-13 in their last 53 overall.
- Athletics are 40-13 in their last 53 games on grass.
- Athletics are 24-8 in their last 32 Sunday games.
- Athletics are 20-7 in their last 27 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Athletics are 19-7 in their last 26 home games.
- Athletics are 24-9 in their last 33 games following a win.
- Athletics are 36-17 in their last 53 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Athletics are 44-21 in their last 65 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Athletics are 37-18 in their last 55 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Athletics are 3-8 in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Athletics are 7-0 in Manaea’s last 7 Sunday starts.
- Athletics are 6-1 in Manaea’s last 7 home starts.
- Athletics are 5-1 in Manaea’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Athletics are 4-1 in Manaea’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Athletics are 7-2 in Manaea’s last 9 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Athletics are 9-3 in Manaea’s last 12 starts.
- Athletics are 9-3 in Manaea’s last 12 starts on grass.
- Athletics are 5-2 in Manaea’s last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Astros last 5 vs. American League West.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Astros last 7 overall.
- Under is 15-3-3 in Astros last 21 road games.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Astros last 7 on grass.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Astros last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 15-5-3 in Astros last 23 games following a loss.
- Under is 6-2-1 in Astros last 9 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 11-4-1 in Astros last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 Sunday games.
- Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Astros last 8 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-3-1 in Astros last 11 during game 3 of a series.
- Over is 5-0 in Verlander’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Verlander’s last 4 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Verlander’s last 4 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 6-0 in Verlander’s last 6 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Verlander’s last 6 starts vs. American League West.
- Over is 4-1 in Verlander’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 9-3 in Verlander’s last 12 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 8-3-1 in Verlander’s last 12 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 8-3-1 in Verlander’s last 12 road starts.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Verlander’s last 8 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Athletics last 4 home games.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Athletics last 4 vs. American League West.
- Under is 6-1 in Athletics last 7 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Athletics last 10 games following a win.
- Under is 15-5-1 in Athletics last 21 overall.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Athletics last 9 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 15-5-1 in Athletics last 21 on grass.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Athletics last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 10-4 in Athletics last 14 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 37-16-4 in Athletics last 57 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 4-0 in Manaea’s last 4 starts vs. American League West.
- Under is 6-2-1 in Manaea’s last 9 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Over is 5-2 in Manaea’s last 7 starts on grass.
- Over is 5-2 in Manaea’s last 7 starts overall.
- Over is 5-2 in Manaea’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 7-3 in Manaea’s last 10 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 9-4-2 in Manaea’s last 15 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 13-4-2 in the last 19 meetings.
- Over is 9-3-1 in the last 13 meetings in Oakland.
- Astros are 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Oakland.
- Athletics are 2-8 in Manaea’s last 10 starts vs. Astros.
- Astros are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings.
- Athletics are 0-4 in Manaea’s last 4 home starts vs. Astros.
