Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros 9/12/23 – As the baseball season races towards its finale, the Oakland Athletics will face the Houston Astros on September 12, 2023, at 8:10 PM ET. The game will take place at Minute Maid Park and will be televised on SportsNet SW. The starting pitchers for the day are JP Sears for Oakland and Justin Verlander for Houston. This piece aims to offer the best MLB winning picks based on a thorough analysis of both teams, recent betting trends, and predictive metrics.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 8:10 PM ET
Location: Minute Maid Park
TV: SportsNet SW
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros 9/12/23 Betting Odds
| Moneyline | Spread | Total | |
| Athletics | +254 | +1.5 (+115) | 8.5 over (-115) |
| Astros | -290 | -1.5 (-135) | 8.5 under (-105) |
Oakland Athletics Analysis
The Oakland Athletics find themselves in a challenging position with a 44-99 record. The offense has been lackluster throughout the season with a batting average of 0.225, 527 runs, 1059 hits, and 151 home runs. The on-base percentage stands at 0.302 and a slugging percentage of 0.373. While these numbers don’t paint an optimistic picture, the Athletics do have sparks of brilliance that they will hope to ignite against the Astros.
Starting pitcher JP Sears comes into the game with a 4-11 win-loss record, holding a 4.51 ERA over 151.2 innings pitched. His WHIP stands at 1.23 with 144 hits, 141 strikeouts, 43 walks, and 31 home runs allowed. Sears will have a steep hill to climb against a potent Houston lineup.
Houston Astros Analysis
On the flip side, the Houston Astros are cruising with an 82-62 record. Their offense is significantly more robust, boasting a batting average of 0.261, along with 750 runs, 1293 hits, and 198 home runs. A higher on-base percentage of 0.333 and slugging percentage of 0.437 add to their offensive prowess.
Veteran ace Justin Verlander is the starting pitcher for Houston. Verlander brings a wealth of experience and a solid 11-7 win-loss record this season. His ERA sits at 3.23 with a WHIP of 1.16 over 136.1 innings. With 118 hits, 119 strikeouts, 40 walks, and 16 home runs allowed, Verlander offers a more solid option on the mound than his counterpart Sears.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Against the Spread
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oakland’s last 7 games, signaling that their pitching staff has been struggling to contain runs. Furthermore, Oakland holds a 2-4 SU (Straight Up) record in their last six games, which illustrates a lack of momentum as they head into this crucial match-up.
The Athletics’ struggles don’t just end there. Their record against the Astros has been dismal lately; a mere 1-10 SU in their last 11 games against Houston paints a grim picture. Adding insult to injury, their road performance has also been disappointing with a 5-15 SU record in the last 20 games on the road. However, one sliver of positive news for risk-takers is that the total has gone OVER in 13 of Oakland’s last 20 games when playing as the underdog. So if you’re leaning towards betting the OVER, recent history suggests it’s not a bad play for Oakland.
On the Houston Astros’ side of the equation, the trends are more promising. They have been dominant recently, going 5-1 SU in their last six outings. This shows they have both the momentum and the form to make the most out of their home advantage. That home advantage is further substantiated by a 9-1 SU record in their last 10 games when playing at home against Oakland.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Free Pick
Based on our in-depth analysis, we recommend the following picks:
Moneyline: Astros
Given the gulf in performance and stats between the two teams, the safest moneyline bet would be on the Houston Astros at -290.
Spread: Astros -1.5 (-135)
Houston’s impressive home record and Oakland’s struggles, particularly against the Astros, make Houston at a spread of -1.5 (-135) a logical pick.
Total: 8.5 over (-115)
Considering that the total has gone OVER in many games for both teams recently, it might be wise to bet on the total going over 8.5 o (-115).
Prediction: 3-7 Houston Astros win
The Houston Astros appear to have a distinct advantage over the Oakland Athletics in virtually all metrics analyzed. For those interested in Canadian sports betting, the most rational picks seem to favor the Astros on the moneyline and spread, with the total likely to go OVER 8.5. Remember, in sports betting, there’s never a sure thing, but being armed with the right information increases your chances of making a profitable pick.
