Astros vs. Athletics Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 7/9/2022

Seeking their 56th win of the year, the Houston Astros (55-28) are favorites (-332) on the moneyline when they take on the Oakland Athletics (28-57) Saturday at 4:07 PM ET. Framber Valdez gets the starting nod for Houston while Zach Logue is Oakland’s starter for the contest.

Astros vs. Athletics Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Athletics

We have the Athletics on the moneyline at +265 on the moneyline as our best bet in this game after looking at all of the key stats and trends for this matchup. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Oakland Athletics (+265) and Over (8.5)

Astros vs. Athletics Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Framber Valdez
• Oakland Athletics probable starting pitcher: Zach Logue
• Game Day: Saturday, July 9, 2022
• Game Time: 4:07 PM ET
• Location: Oakland, California
• Stadium: Oakland Coliseum

Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Framber Valdez

• Valdez makes the start for the Astros, his 17th of the season. He is 8-3 with a 2.67 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 101 innings pitched.
• His most recent time out was on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels, when the lefty tossed 6 2/3 innings, surrendering two earned runs while giving up three hits.
• In 16 games this season, the 28-year-old has put up an ERA of 2.67, with 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are batting .208 against him.
• Valdez is trying to extend a 13th-game quality start streak in this outing.
• Valdez is looking for his 14th straight outing lasting five or more innings. He averages 6.1 innings per appearance on the hill.
• The opposing Athletics offense has the worst slugging percentage (.329) and is 29th in MLB play with 61 home runs. It has a collective .210 batting average, and is last in MLB with 580 total hits and 29th in MLB play scoring 269 runs.
• Valdez has pitched nine innings, giving up one earned run on two hits while striking out seven against the Athletics this season.
• Among qualifying pitchers in MLB play this season, the 28-year-old ranks 13th in ERA (2.67), 27th in WHIP (1.129), and 33rd in K/9 (8.3).

Athletics Starter Zach Logue

• The Athletics will send out Logue for his first start of the season.
• The 26-year-old left-hander will make his season debut.
• The Astros rank 13th in MLB with a .243 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks fourth in the league (.432) and 123 home runs.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have won 48, or 70.6%, of the 68 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Houston has played as a favorite of -332 or more once this season and won that game.
• The implied probability of a win from the Astros, based on the moneyline, is 76.9%.
• So far this season, Houston and its opponents have hit the over in 30 of their 84 games with a total.
• In 84 games with a spread this season, the Astros are 46-38-0 ATS.

Athletics Betting Picks & Insights

• The Athletics have won in 23, or 32.4%, of the 71 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• Oakland has played as an underdog of +265 or more just one time this year and came away with a loss in that game.
• The Athletics have an implied victory probability of 27.4% according to the moneyline set by sportsbooks for this matchup.
• Contests with Oakland have gone over the total set by oddsmakers in 35 of 85 chances this season.
• The Athletics have posted a record of 40-45-0 against the spread this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yordan Alvarez is the bat to watch in the Astros lineup, leading the team in batting average (.311), home runs (26), and RBI (60).
• Alvarez’s home runs put him third in MLB, and he ranks sixth in RBI.
• Alvarez has collected a hit in six straight games. In his last 10 games he is hitting .303 with three doubles, four home runs, 10 walks and six RBI.
• Kyle Tucker has 11 doubles, 16 home runs and 39 walks while batting .262.
• Tucker is 27th in homers and eighth in RBI among all MLB batters this season.
• Tucker enters this matchup looking for his fifth game in a row with a hit. In his last five games he is hitting .263 with a walk and five RBI.
• Alex Bregman is hitting .242 with 18 doubles, 11 home runs and 50 walks.
• Jose Altuve is hitting .279 with 16 doubles, 17 home runs and 32 walks.
• Altuve is riding a seven-game hitting streak into this one. During his last 10 games he is batting .306 with three doubles, two home runs, seven walks and six RBI.

Athletics Leaders & Batting Stats

• Elvis Andrus leads the Athletics with a .228 batting average.
• Among all batters in the majors, Andrus ranks 163rd in home runs and 196th in RBI.
• Andrus carries a two-game hitting streak into this matchup. During his last five outings he is batting .267 with two doubles, two home runs, two walks and five RBI.
• Sean Murphy has 18 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 21 walks while hitting .225.
• Murphy ranks 93rd in home runs and 99th in RBI among all MLB batters this season.
• Seth Brown has been a significant run producer for the Athletics with 10 home runs and 36 runs batted in.
• Ramon Laureano is batting .246 with 12 doubles, six home runs and 21 walks.