Astros vs. Athletics Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 8/14/2022

The Oakland Athletics (41-73) hope to avoid their eighth straight defeat when they visit the Houston Astros (74-41) Sunday at 2:10 PM ET. The Astros are listed as -270 favorites, while the Athletics are +219 underdogs as they try to snap their losing skid. Houston’s Cristian Javier and Oakland’s Cole Irvin have been named the starters for this contest.

Astros vs. Athletics Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Athletics

After digging through all of the key statistics and trends for this matchup, our best bet is the Athletics on the moneyline at +219. Our computer prediction sees the scoring going over the total of 8 runs.

Our computer pick: Oakland Athletics (+219) and Over (8)

Astros vs. Athletics Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Cristian Javier
• Oakland Athletics probable starting pitcher: Cole Irvin
• Game Day: Sunday, August 14, 2022
• Game Time: 2:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Cristian Javier

• Javier (6-8) takes the mound for the Astros in his 18th start of the season. He’s put together a 3.14 ERA in 100 1/3 innings pitched, with 132 strikeouts.
• In his most recent appearance on Sunday, the righty tossed six innings against the Cleveland Guardians, giving up one earned run while surrendering six hits.
• The 25-year-old has put together a 3.14 ERA and 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings across 21 games this season, while allowing a batting average of .191 to his opponents.
• Javier is trying to build upon a second-game quality start streak in this matchup.
• Javier will try to build upon a five-game streak of going five or more innings (he’s averaging 4.2 frames per outing).
• He will face off against an Athletics offense that ranks last in MLB with 803 total hits (on a .215 batting average). The team also slugs a collective .344 (29th in MLB) with 96 total home runs (27th in MLB).
• Javier has a 4.00 ERA and a 1.556 WHIP against the Athletics this season in nine innings pitched, allowing a .250 batting average over two appearances.

Athletics Starter Cole Irvin

• The Athletics will hand the ball to Irvin (6-9) for his 21st start of the season.
• The left-hander gave up one earned run in eight innings pitched on Tuesday in his last outing, a matchup with the Los Angeles Angels.
• The 28-year-old has an ERA of 2.92 and 6.1 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .226 in 20 games this season.
• He’s going for his eighth quality start in a row.
• Irvin has 20 starts in a row of five innings or more.
• The Astros have scored 519 runs this season, which ranks ninth in MLB. They are batting .243 for the campaign with 158 home runs, third in the league.
• The Astros have gone 18-for-91 with five doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBI in 24 2/3 innings this season against the left-hander.
• Among qualified pitchers this campaign, the 28-year-old’s 2.92 ERA ranks 17th, 1.030 WHIP ranks 17th, and 6.1 K/9 ranks 55th.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have been favorites in 99 games this season and won 67 (67.7%) of those contests.
• Houston is 5-5 this season when entering a game favored by -270 or more on the moneyline.
• The Astros have a 73% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Houston and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 43 of their 116 opportunities.
• In 116 games with a spread this season, the Astros are 61-55-0 ATS.

Athletics Betting Picks & Insights

• The Athletics have been underdogs in 97 games this season and have come away with the win 35 times (36.1%) in those contests.
• This season, Oakland has come away with a win three times in 11 chances when named as an underdog of at least +219 or longer on the moneyline.
• The Athletics have an implied victory probability of 31.3% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Contests with Oakland have gone over the total set by oddsmakers in 48 of 114 chances this season.
• The Athletics are 54-60-0 against the spread in their 114 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yordan Alvarez’s .298 average and 31 homers both put him atop the Astros leaderboard this season.
• Alvarez’s home runs rank him third in the majors, and he ranks 10th in RBI.
• Alvarez carries a three-game hitting streak into this matchup. During his last five outings he is hitting .211 with a home run, a walk and an RBI.
• Alex Bregman is hitting .256 with 26 doubles, 15 home runs and 64 walks.
• Bregman ranks 58th in home runs and 27th in RBI on the season.
• Bregman has five games in a row with at least one hit. During his last five outings he is hitting .467 with two home runs, six walks and five RBI.
• Kyle Tucker has put up a team-high 76 runs batted in.
• Tucker is on a five-game hitting streak entering this contest. During his last five outings he is batting .400 with a double, a triple, two home runs, a walk and nine RBI.
• Jose Altuve is batting .278 with 25 doubles, 19 home runs and 45 walks.

Athletics Leaders & Batting Stats

• The Athletics are lead in runs batted in by Sean Murphy with a mark of 48, he also leads the team in hitting, posting an average of .244.
• Among all hitters in MLB, Murphy is 85th in home runs and 77th in RBI.
• Murphy carries a two-game hitting streak into this matchup. During his last five outings he is hitting .111 with three walks.
• Seth Brown been a consistent power bat this season, as he leads his team with 17 home runs and 48 RBI.
• Brown ranks 40th among all batters in MLB in home runs, and 77th in RBI.
• Elvis Andrus is hitting .237 with 24 doubles, seven home runs and 29 walks.
• Tony Kemp is hitting .218 with 19 doubles, four home runs and 31 walks.