Oakland Athletics (44-99) vs. Houston Astros (82-62)
As MLB season nears its conclusion, Oakland Athletics (44-93) and Houston Astros (826-22) will meet for a late-night matchup at Minute Maid Park at 8:10 PM ET on September 12, 2023 – this game can be found live streaming via SportsNet SW. As both clubs vie for playoff positioning in their divisions, this matchup presents exciting daily pick opportunities in MLB daily betting markets.
The Oakland Athletics have had an unsuccessful season, posting an atrocious win-loss record of 44-99 and missing playoff contention. Their performance on both sides of the ball has been underwhelming – an unimpressive batting average of 0.225 coupled with 527 runs scored, and 151 homers is indicative of their struggles at bat; their pitching staff also didn’t fare too well, posting an ERA of 5.61 with a WHIP of 1.54. These underdogs indeed prove it.
Houston Astros are also having an impressive season with an 82-62 record, posting an effectual offensive output with a batting average of 0.261 and 750 runs scored; their pitching staff has also proven reliable with an ERA of 3.97 and WHIP of 1.29, making the Astros an all-around team that the Athletics don’t possess.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Game Info
| When: | Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 8:10 PM ET |
| Where: | Minute Maid Park |
| TV: | SportsNet SW |
| Stream | MLB.TV |
JP Sears (4-11, 4.51 ERA) vs. Justin Verlander (11-7, 3.23 ERA)
JP Sears takes the mound for the struggling Athletics with a record that reflects the hardships of his team. At 4-11, it’s evident that Sears has had a difficult season, and his 4.51 ERA adds more context to that storyline. However, one must consider the defense behind him and the lack of run support, factors that often go unnoticed but can substantially influence a pitcher’s win-loss record. In 151.2 innings pitched, Sears has allowed 144 hits, 31 home runs, and has a WHIP of 1.23. These numbers don’t inspire confidence, but they are not the whole story. Sears has shown resilience, averaging nearly 6 innings per start and accumulating 141 strikeouts against 43 walks. He has demonstrated an ability to miss bats, but his 31 home runs allowed indicate issues with command and location at crucial moments. Given the Athletics’ below-par season, Sears will look to play the role of spoiler, hoping to add some spark to an otherwise grim campaign.
For the Astros, Justin Verlander will take the ball, and his stats immediately command attention. With an 11-7 win-loss record and an ERA of 3.23, Verlander is one of the premier pitchers in the league. He’s been a model of consistency for the Astros, often acting as the stopper in the rotation and thwarting losing streaks before they can take hold. Over 136.1 innings, Verlander has given up 118 hits and 16 home runs while maintaining a strong 1.16 WHIP. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is also impressive: 119 strikeouts to 40 walks. These numbers are indicative of a pitcher who is in full control on the mound, able to manipulate counts in his favor and put batters away when he needs to. The most crucial part of Verlander’s stats could be his home runs allowed, which sits at just 16 compared to Sears’ 31. This could be a pivotal point in the game, especially when pitching in the hitter-friendly confines of Minute Maid Park.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Houston Astros -290, Total Odds: 8.5
The betting odds are heavily tilted in favor of the Astros. The Athletics have a spread of +1.5 (+115), a moneyline of +254, and an over-under total of 8.5 (-115). The Astros come in at -1.5 (-135) on the spread, -290 on the moneyline, and 8.5 under (-105) on the total.
Oakland Athletics Betting Trends
When we look at the Athletics’ recent betting trends, we see that the total has gone OVER in 5 of their last 7 games. However, they are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games and have a poor 1-10 SU record in their last 11 games against Houston. This makes the Athletics a risky bet, even with the tempting odds for an upset.
Houston Astros Betting Trends
For the Astros, the total has gone OVER in 6 of their last 6 games, and they’re a strong 5-1 SU in their last 6 outings. They have dominated the Athletics lately, holding a 9-1 SU record in their last 10 home games against them. These trends suggest that betting on the Astros to win, perhaps even comfortably, would be a wise decision.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros 9/12/23 Betting Picks
Taking into account the trends, team stats, and starting pitcher analysis, the live-betting option seems to be leaning towards the Houston Astros. The Athletics’ recent form and historical performance against the Astros make it hard to back them, even as underdogs. Verlander’s superior statistics further skew the balance in favor of the Astros in live-betting. Expect a strong outing from Justin Verlander and the Astros’ potent offense, resulting in a comfortable win for Houston. With the game taking place at Minute Maid Park, where the Astros have been dominant against the Athletics, it’s hard to imagine a different outcome.
Free Pick and Prediction: Houston Astros will win 7-3
