Astros vs. Athletics Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 7/8/2022

The Houston Astros (54-28) are set to take on the Oakland Athletics (28-56) Friday at 9:40 PM ET. The Astros are listed as -185 favorites by sportsbooks, while the underdog Athletics have +165 odds for the contest. Jose Urquidy gets the starting nod for Houston while Paul Blackburn is Oakland’s starter for the contest.

Astros vs. Athletics Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Athletics

After analyzing all of the key trends and stats for this matchup, our best bet is the Athletics on the moneyline at +165. Our computer prediction sees the scoring going over the total of 7.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Oakland Athletics (+165) and Over (7.5)

Astros vs. Athletics Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: José Urquidy
• Oakland Athletics probable starting pitcher: Paul Blackburn
• Game Day: Friday, July 8, 2022
• Game Time: 9:40 PM ET
• Location: Oakland, California
• Stadium: Oakland Coliseum

Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter José Urquidy

• Urquidy gets the start for the Astros, his 16th of the season. He is 7-3 with a 4.15 ERA and 63 strikeouts through 80 1/3 innings pitched.
• In his most recent time out on Saturday, the right-hander threw six innings against the Los Angeles Angels, giving up one earned run while surrendering two hits.
• The 27-year-old has an ERA of 4.15, with 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings, in 15 games this season. Opposing hitters have a .272 batting average against him.
• Urquidy is trying to build upon a fourth-game quality start streak in this matchup.
• Urquidy will aim to last five or more innings for his fifth straight start. He’s averaging 5.1 frames per outing.
• He meets an Athletics offense that ranks 29th in the league with 266 runs while batting .211 as a unit. It has a collective .329 slugging percentage (30th in MLB action) and has hit a total of 60 home runs (29th in MLB).

Athletics Starter Paul Blackburn

• Blackburn (6-3) will take to the mound for the Athletics and make his 17th start of the season.
• The right-hander allowed four hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings pitched against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
• The 28-year-old has an ERA of 2.90 and 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .239 in 16 games this season.
• In 16 starts this season, he’s earned four quality starts.
• Blackburn has pitched five or more innings in two straight games and will look to extend that streak.
• The Astros rank 14th in MLB with a .241 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks fifth in the league (.430) and 121 home runs.
• The Astros have gone 5-for-26 with a triple, two home runs and four RBI in one game against the right-hander this season.
• The 28-year-old’s 2.90 ERA ranks 19th, 1.161 WHIP ranks 34th, and 6.9 K/9 ranks 53rd among qualified pitchers in the majors this season.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Astros have been favored 67 times and won 47, or 70.1%, of those games.
• Houston has a record of 17-5, a 77.3% win rate, when favored by -185 or more by bookmakers this season.
• Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Astros have a 64.9% chance to win.
• So far this season, Houston and its opponents have hit the over in 29 of their 83 games with a total.
• The Astros are 45-38-0 against the spread in their 83 chances this season.

Athletics Betting Picks & Insights

• The Athletics have won in 23, or 32.9%, of the 70 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• This season, Oakland has come away with a win five times in 21 chances when named as an underdog of at least +165 or worse on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Athletics have a 37.7% chance of walking away with the win.
• Oakland and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 34 of their 84 opportunities.
• The Athletics are 40-44-0 against the spread in their 84 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Not only does Yordan Alvarez lead the Astros in hitting with his .312 average, he also paces the squad with 26 home runs and 59 RBI.
• Including all MLB batters, Alvarez is 10th in batting average, fourth in on-base percentage, and first in slugging.
• Alvarez brings a hitting streak of five games into this game. During his last five outings he is hitting .316 with two doubles, three home runs, four walks and three RBI.
• Kyle Tucker is hitting .262 with 11 doubles, 16 home runs and 38 walks.
• Tucker ranks 25th in home runs in MLB, and eighth in RBI.
• Tucker has three games in a row with at least one hit. During his last five outings he is hitting .316 with a home run and six RBI.
• Jose Altuve is batting .280 with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 31 walks.
• Altuve is on a six-game hitting streak entering this contest. During his last 10 outings he is hitting .314 with two doubles, three home runs, eight walks and seven RBI.
• Alex Bregman is batting .239 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 50 walks.

Athletics Leaders & Batting Stats

• Elvis Andrus leads the team in batting average with a mark of .227.
• Andrus’ home run total puts him 187th in MLB, and he is 214th in RBI.
• Sean Murphy has 17 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 21 walks while hitting .225.
• Among all MLB batters, Murphy ranks 90th in home runs and 96th in RBI.
• Seth Brown has been solid source of run production for the Athletics with 10 long balls and 36 runs batted in.
• Tony Kemp is hitting .210 with nine doubles, two home runs and 25 walks.