Oakland (84-59) at Houston (94-50)
When: Monday, September 9, 2019
Where: Minute Maid Park,
Houston, Texas
Time: 8:10 ET | TV: NBCS California
Opening Odds: Houston -180/9.5
The Houston Astros are only a few games away from clinching the American League West once again and can move even closer this week when they host second place Oakland beginning Monday night at Minute Maid Park. Houston enters the final three weeks with a 9.5 game lead over the Athletics but are now focusing on winning homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. The Yankees and Astros are tied at 94-50 and both possess the best home records in the American League – Houston is an amazing 54-17 after sweeping four games from the lowly Seattle Mariners over the weekend. Sunday’s 21-1 trouncing of the Mariners gave Houston their sixth win in seven games, but face a hot Oakland team that was won five of their last six and sit 1.5 games up on Cleveland for the second wild card spot and one behind Tampa Bay for the top spot and homefield advantage. Mike Fiers, who hasn’t lost a decision since May 1st, will take the mound for the A’s opposite 14-game winner Zack Greinke. Houston owns a 10-5 lead in the season series that wraps-up with this four-game set.
Pitchers: Athletics – Mike Fiers (14-3, 3.51 ERA) | Astros – Zack Greinke (14-5, 3.09)
Fiers’ streak continued on Tuesday thanks to his offense bailing him out with a 7-5 win over the L.A. Angels, as the righty allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings. The A’s have won each of his last nine starts including a 7-6 win versus Houston on August 15th when Fiers surrendered five runs and six hits – four homers – over six frames. Fiers allowed six runs in 1.2 innings at Houston on April 7th, but just two runs over 7.2 innings of a 4-3 at Minute Maid Park on July 23rd.
Houston lost for the first time in Greinke’s six starts with his new club when he allowed four runs and eight hits over six innings of work of a 4-2 loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday. He has a 5.40 ERA in his last three starts while allowing a total of nine runs and 14 hits in his last two. Greinke cruised to a 4-1 at Oakland last month when he surrendered just a single run and four hits in seven innings.
Both clubs still have a lot to play for and this four-game set should be a good battle. I’m still going to ride Fiers until he loses a decision. Oakland has won nine straight when he starts while the Astros have lost Greinke’s last two outings. I’ll take a shot with the dog here.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Monday. He is 126-84 +2983 units on the season after a 27-11 run!
Pick: A’s +162
BETTING TRENDS:
Athletics are 8-1 in their last 9 vs. American League West.
Athletics are 8-3 in their last 11 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Athletics are 38-15 in their last 53 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Athletics are 5-2 in their last 7 during game 1 of a series.
Athletics are 12-5 in their last 17 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Athletics are 14-6 in their last 20 vs. a team with a winning record.
Athletics are 60-29 in their last 89 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 47-23 in their last 70 overall.
Athletics are 47-23 in their last 70 games on grass.
Athletics are 2-5 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Athletics are 4-0 in Fiers’ last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
Athletics are 6-0 in Fiers’ last 6 starts vs. American League West.
Athletics are 5-0 in Fiers’ last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Athletics are 5-0 in Fiers’ last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Athletics are 10-1 in Fiers’ last 11 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Athletics are 7-1 in Fiers’ last 8 road starts.
Athletics are 6-1 in Fiers’ last 7 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Athletics are 16-4 in Fiers’ last 20 starts with 5 days of rest.
Athletics are 27-7 in Fiers’ last 34 starts on grass.
Athletics are 28-10 in Fiers’ last 38 starts.
Astros are 9-2 in their last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 40-11 in their last 51 during game 1 of a series.
Astros are 45-13 in their last 58 vs. American League West.
Astros are 44-13 in their last 57 home games.
Astros are 47-17 in their last 64 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 20-8 in their last 28 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Astros are 40-16 in their last 56 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Astros are 37-15 in their last 52 overall.
Astros are 42-17 in their last 59 games on grass.
Astros are 51-21 in their last 72 games following a win.
Astros are 35-17 in their last 52 Monday games.
Astros are 39-19 in their last 58 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 3-0-1 in Athletics last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 3-0-1 in Athletics last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 4-1 in Athletics last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 4-1-1 in Athletics last 6 games following a win.
Over is 3-1-1 in Athletics last 5 during game 1 of a series.
Over is 19-7 in Athletics last 26 Monday games.
Over is 5-2 in Athletics last 7 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 37-17-2 in Athletics last 56 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-0 in Fiers’ last 6 road starts.
Over is 3-0-1 in Fiers’ last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-0 in Fiers’ last 4 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 5-1-1 in Fiers’ last 7 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 5-1 in Fiers’ last 6 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 7-2 in Fiers’ last 9 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 11-4 in Fiers’ last 15 starts vs. American League West.
Under is 5-2-1 in Fiers’ last 8 starts with 5 days of rest.
Under is 10-4-1 in Fiers’ last 15 starts overall.
Under is 9-4-1 in Fiers’ last 14 starts on grass.
Over is 6-0-1 in Astros last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 7-1 in Astros last 8 home games.
Over is 6-1-1 in Astros last 8 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 vs. American League West.
Over is 12-3 in Astros last 15 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 6-2 in Astros last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 5-2 in Astros last 7 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 7-3 in Astros last 10 on grass.
Over is 7-3-2 in Astros last 12 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 41-18-2 in Astros last 61 Monday games.
Under is 4-1 in Greinke’s last 5 starts on grass.
Under is 4-1 in Greinke’s last 5 starts overall.
Athletics are 19-41 in the last 60 meetings.
Athletics are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings in Houston.
