The Oakland Athletics (49-39) and Houston Astros (54-33) will wrap up their three-game series Thursday afternoon at Minute Maid Park with the first pitch at 2:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Athletics vs. Astros odds with MLB picks and predictions.
RHP Frankie Montas is the projected starting pitcher for the Athletics. He is 7-7 with a 4.63 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 93 1/3 IP over 17 starts.
Despite allowing three or fewer earned runs in six of his last seven starts, the A’s are just 2-5 in those games. In his last start, he allowed just two runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Red Sox, though he only struck out three. In two starts against the Astros this season, he allowed three runs in 11 innings with 11 strikeouts.
RHP Lance McCullers Jr. is the projected starting pitcher for the Astros. He is 6-1 with a 2.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 10.0 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 in 72 2/3 IP over 13 starts.
The Astros have won McCullers’ last four starts and eight of his last nine. He’s allowed more than three earned runs only once this year when he surrendered six runs against the Detroit Tigers April 14. In two starts against the A’s this year, he’s allowed two runs in 10 innings with 13 strikeouts.
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Athletics at Astros odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:34 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Athletics +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Astros -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Athletics +1.5 (-140) | Astros -1.5 (+115)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Prediction
Astros 5, Athletics 3
Money line (ML)
After losing five of six games against the Tigers and Orioles, the Astros got back on track by winning their last six, including the first two of this series against Oakland. They’ve scored at least four runs in five of those six games and have outscored Oakland 13-9 in the first two games.
I like the ASTROS (-175) to win outright today at home where they are 28-16 this season.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The Astros are 8-1 in McCullers’ last nine starts, winning seven of those games by at least three runs. The A’s are just 2-7 in Montas’ last nine starts despite him pitching relatively well.
Bet the ASTROS -1.5 (+115) to cover the spread.
Over/Under (O/U)
In their last six meetings this season, the total has gone Over five times. However, the Astros and A’s both have strong starting pitchers on the mound, even if Montas’ record doesn’t reflect that.
McCullers should be good for at least five or six innings and three or fewer runs, while Montas has the stuff to slow down Houston’s lineup. Bet the UNDER 8.5 (+100) this afternoon.
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