Astros vs. Athletics Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 7/16/2022

The Houston Astros (58-31) hope to avoid an upset as -208 favorites when they take on Skye Bolt (with homers in two straight contests) and the Oakland Athletics (31-60). First pitch is at 4:10 PM ET Saturday, live from Minute Maid Park. Justin Verlander will get the ball for Houston while Oakland counter with Jared Koenig.

Astros vs. Athletics Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Athletics

After digging through all of the key stats and trends for this matchup, our best bet is the Athletics on the moneyline at +174. Our computer prediction sees the scoring going over the total of 8 runs.

Our computer pick: Oakland Athletics (+174) and Over (8)

Astros vs. Athletics Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Justin Verlander
• Oakland Athletics probable starting pitcher: Jared Koenig
• Game Day: Saturday, July 16, 2022
• Game Time: 4:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Justin Verlander

• Verlander makes the start for the Astros, his 17th of the season. He is 11-3 with a 2.00 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 103 1/3 innings pitched.
• His most recent time out came on Thursday, July 7 against the Kansas City Royals, when the right-hander went 6 2/3 innings, surrendering one earned run while giving up seven hits.
• The 39-year-old has put up a 2.00 ERA and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 16 games this season, while allowing a batting average of .190 to his opponents.
• Verlander is trying to build upon a third-game quality start streak in this matchup.
• Verlander will try to pitch five or more innings for his fourth straight appearance. He’s averaging 6.1 innings per outing.
• He will face an Athletics offense that ranks last in MLB with 627 total hits (on a .211 batting average). The squad also slugs a collective .333 (30th in MLB) with 69 total home runs (28th in MLB).
• Verlander has pitched seven innings, giving up three earned runs on two hits while striking out six against the Athletics this season.
• This season, the 39-year-old ranks third in ERA (2.00), third in WHIP (.871), and 30th in K/9 (8.5) among qualifying pitchers.

Athletics Starter Jared Koenig

• The Athletics will send Koenig (1-2) to the mound for his fifth start this season.
• The left-hander last pitched on Saturday, June 25, when he threw 4 2/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals, giving up three earned runs.
• The 28-year-old has an ERA of 6.38 and 4.9 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .288 in four games this season.
• Koenig has one start of five or more innings this season in four chances. He averages 4.2 innings per outing.
• The Astros are batting .239 this season, 18th in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .421 (fifth in the league) with 125 home runs.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Astros have been favored 73 times and won 51, or 69.9%, of those games.
• This season, Houston has won 13 of its 20 games, or 65%, when favored by at least -208 on the moneyline.
• The moneyline for this contest implies a 67.5% chance of a victory for the Astros.
• Games involving Houston have gone over the total set by bookmakers in 32 of 90 chances this season.
• The Astros are 47-43-0 against the spread in their 90 chances this season.

Athletics Betting Picks & Insights

• The Athletics have been victorious in 26, or 33.8%, of the 77 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
• Oakland has a mark of 6-10 in contests where oddsmakers favor them by +174 or worse on the moneyline.
• Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Athletics have a 36.5% chance of pulling out a win.
• Oakland’s games have gone over the total in 37 of their 91 opportunities.
• The Athletics are 43-48-0 against the spread in their 91 games that had a posted line this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Kyle Tucker has been the Astros top run producer this season, leading the team with 61 RBI while hitting .253 with 17 home runs.
• Of all hitters in the majors, Tucker’s home run total places him 23rd, and his RBI tally ranks him eighth.
• Alex Bregman has 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 52 walks while batting .243.
• Bregman ranks 72nd in home runs and 45th in RBI among all hitters in the majors.
• Bregman carries a five-game streak with at least one hit into this contest. During his last five outings he is batting .300 with two doubles, two walks and two RBI.
• Jose Altuve is batting .277 with 17 doubles, 17 home runs and 36 walks.
• Yuli Gurriel is hitting .231 with 24 doubles, seven home runs and 19 walks.
• Gurriel brings a two-game streak with at least one hit into this one. In his last five games he is hitting .200 with a walk and an RBI.

Athletics Leaders & Batting Stats

• Elvis Andrus is batting .224 with 20 doubles, six home runs and 26 walks.
• In all of the majors, Andrus is 174th in homers and 182nd in RBI.
• Sean Murphy has a club-leading .237 batting average.
• Murphy is 101st overall in home runs and 95th in RBI this season.
• Seth Brown leads the Athletics in home runs (10) and runs batted in (38).
• Ramon Laureano is hitting .235 with 12 doubles, eight home runs and 21 walks.