Astros vs. Athletics Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 8/12/2022

Yordan Alvarez is on the brink of his 99th hit of the season for the Houston Astros (72-41) as they get set to take on the Oakland Athletics (41-71) on Friday. The Astros enter the matchup as -339 favorites on the moneyline, and action gets underway from Minute Maid Park at 8:10 PM ET. Houston’s Luis Garcia and Oakland’s Adam Oller have been named the starters for this contest.

Astros vs. Athletics Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Athletics

Our best bet is the Athletics on the moneyline at +270 after analyzing all of the key stats and trends for this matchup. Our computer predicts the scoring will over the total of 8.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Oakland Athletics (+270) and Over (8.5)

Astros vs. Athletics Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Luis Garcia
• Oakland Athletics probable starting pitcher: Adam Oller
• Game Day: Friday, August 12, 2022
• Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Luis Garcia

• The Astros will send Garcia (8-8) to make his 21st start of the season. He is 8-8 with a 3.93 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 112 1/3 innings pitched.
• In his last time out on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, the righty tossed 6 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs while surrendering nine hits.
• The 25-year-old has an ERA of 3.93, with 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings, in 20 games this season. Opponents are hitting .216 against him.
• Garcia is looking to record his eighth quality start of the season in this game.
• Garcia is aiming for his 10th straight appearance lasting five or more innings. He averages 5.2 innings per appearance on the mound.
• The opposing Athletics offense has a collective .214 batting average, and is last in the league with 787 total hits and 29th in MLB action with 379 runs scored. It has the 29th-ranked slugging percentage (.344) and ranks 27th in home runs (96) in all of MLB.
• In 5 2/3 innings over one appearance against the Athletics this season, Garcia has a 6.35 ERA and a 1.412 WHIP while his opponents are hitting .190.

Athletics Starter Adam Oller

• The Athletics’ Oller (1-5) will make his ninth start of the season.
• The right-hander gave up four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched on Saturday in his last outing, a matchup with the San Francisco Giants.
• The 27-year-old has an ERA of 7.63, a 1.208 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.786 in 13 games this season.
• In eight starts this season, Oller has not yet earned a quality start.
• Oller has pitched five or more innings in three straight games and will look to extend that streak.
• The Astros rank 17th in MLB with a .241 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks sixth in the league (.422) and 156 home runs.
• The right-hander has faced the Astros two times this season, allowing them to go 10-for-38 with four doubles, three home runs and six RBI in 9 1/3 innings.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have won 65, or 67%, of the 97 games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Houston has played as a favorite of -339 or more twice this season and won both games.
• The Astros have a 77.2% 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 42 of their 114 opportunities.
• In 114 games with a spread this season, the Astros are 59-55-0 ATS.

Athletics Betting Picks & Insights

• The Athletics have won in 35, or 36.8%, of the 95 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• Oakland has been listed as an underdog of +270 or more on two occasions this season and lost both games.
• The Athletics have an implied victory probability of 27% according to the moneyline set by sportsbooks for this matchup.
• Oakland and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 47 of their 112 opportunities.
• In 112 games with a line this season, the Athletics have a mark of 54-58-0 against the spread.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Alvarez’s 31 home runs and 74 RBI both lead the Astros, on top of his team-high .295 average.
• Among all MLB hitters, Alvarez is 24th in batting average, third in on-base percentage, and second in slugging.
• Alex Bregman is batting .255 with 26 doubles, 14 home runs and 62 walks.
• Bregman is 68th in home runs in baseball, and 31st in RBI.
• Bregman heads into this game looking for his fourth game in a row with a hit. During his last five outings he is batting .375 with a double, a home run, four walks and three RBI.
• Kyle Tucker is hitting .247 with 17 doubles, 20 home runs and 49 walks.
• Tucker has at least one base hit in three straight games. In his last five games he is batting .438 with two doubles, a home run, two walks and five RBI.
• Jose Altuve is hitting .280 with 24 doubles, 19 home runs and 43 walks.

Athletics Leaders & Batting Stats

• Sean Murphy has put up a team-high batting average of .242 while leading the Athletics in runs batted in with a mark of 48.
• Among all batters in the majors, Murphy’s home run total is 79th and his RBI tally ranks 73rd.
• Seth Brown been a consistent power bat this season, as he paces his team with 17 home runs and 48 runs batted in.
• Brown is 40th among all hitters in the big leagues in home runs, and 73rd in RBI.
• Elvis Andrus has 23 doubles, seven home runs and 29 walks while hitting .237.
• Tony Kemp has 19 doubles, four home runs and 30 walks while hitting .216.