Sunday, July 10, 2016

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Sean Manaea vs. Dallas Keuchel

The Oakland Athletics visit Minute Maid Park on Sunday to play the Houston Astros. The probable starters are Sean Manaea for the Athletics and Dallas Keuchel for the Astros. The opening line for this matchup has Oakland at +180 and Houston at -190. The over/under was set at 8. The Athletics have a 43-41-3 over/under record and a 45-42-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 52% of the time. The Astros are 39-48-0 against the run line and have a 39-43-5 over/under record. They cover the spread 45% of the time.

The Athletics head into this matchup with a 37-50 record, including 20-24 on the road. Starting pitcher Sean Manaea has a 3-5 record with an earned run average of 5.85 and a WHIP of 1.47. He has 49 strikeouts over his 60 innings pitched and he has given up 68 hits so far this season. He has allowed 10.2 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.81. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.32 and they have given up 299 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .254 against the bullpen while being struck out 283 times and walking 97 times this season. As a team, Oakland has allowed 9.56 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.69 batters per nine. They are 27th in the league in team earned run average at 4.80. The Athletics pitchers have collectively given up 816 base hits and 410 earned runs. They have allowed 105 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Oakland as a pitching staff has walked 280 batters and struck out 656. They walk 3.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.7 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.43 and their FIP as a unit is 4.46.

As a team, Oakland is batting .252, good for 18th in the league while putting together a .261 average away from home. The Athletics hold a .399 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .304 which is good for 27th in baseball. They rank 17th in baseball with 8.59 hits per game. Jed Lowrie comes into this game hitting .285 and his on-base percentage is at .339. He has 75 hits this season along with 25 runs scored and 25 runs batted in. He's struck out 46 times and has walked 22 times. Josh Reddick is hitting .293 and he has an on-base percentage of .370. He has totaled 54 hits so far while scoring 23 runs and he's driven in 20. He has walked 23 times and has struck out 25 times. The Athletics have 747 hits, including 141 doubles and 89 home runs. They've stolen 36 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 13 times. Oakland has walked 215 times this season and they've struck out 579 times as a unit. They've left 548 men on base and have a team OPS of .703. They score 4.16 runs per contest and have scored a total of 362 runs so far this year.

Houston comes into this matchup with a 27-18 home record and a 47-40 overall mark. With an earned run average of 5.02, Dallas Keuchel has a 6-9 record and a 1.40 WHIP. He has 99 strikeouts over the 113 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 123 hits. He has allowed 9.8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.13. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.29 and they have given up 253 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .231 against the Astros bullpen while being struck out 308 times and walking 65 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 8.99 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.23 batters per nine. They are 10th in the league in team earned run average at 3.93. The Astros pitchers as a team have surrendered 793 base knocks and 346 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 93 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Houston as a staff has walked 235 hitters and struck out 727. They give up a walk 2.7 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.29 while their FIP as a staff is 3.83.

As a team, they are batting .245, good for 24th in the league while putting together a .238 average at home. The Astros hold a .419 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .326 which is good for 15th in baseball. They rank 23rd in baseball with 8.34 hits per contest. Jose Altuve comes into this matchup batting .347 and he has an OBP of .418. He has 119 hits this year along with 66 runs scored and 50 RBI. He's struck out 36 times and has walked on 40 occasions. Carlos Correa is hitting .264 and he has an OBP of .360. He has collected 84 hits so far while he's scored 45 runs and drove in 55. He has earned a walk 44 times and has punched out 83 times. The Astros as a unit have 726 base hits, including 150 doubles and 112 homers. They have 65 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 24 times. Houston as a team has walked 338 times this year and they have struck out 811 times. They've had 601 men left on base and have an OPS of .745. They score 4.56 runs per game and have totaled 397 runs so far this season.

Oakland Athletics Betting Trends

The Oakland Athletics are 43-41-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Oakland Athletics are 45-42-0 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 39-43-5 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 39-48-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Oakland Athletics

07/09/16 3B Danny Valencia Rest is not expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday vs. Houston Astros
07/08/16 CF Coco Crisp Suspension Served probable Saturday vs. Houston Astros
07/04/16 P Fernando Rodriguez Shoulder 15-day DL (7/4)
07/03/16 C Josh Phegley Knee 15-day DL (7/2)
07/01/16 P Sean Doolittle Shoulder 15-day DL (6/26)
05/11/16 P Chris Bassitt Elbow 60-day DL (4/28); out for season
05/11/16 LF Mark Canha Back 60-day DL (5/9), out for season
04/10/16 P Henderson Alvarez Shoulder 60-day DL (4/6)
04/05/16 P Felix Doubront Elbow 60-day DL (4/4); out for season
04/03/16 2B Eric Sogard Shoulder 60-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 CF Sam Fuld Shoulder 60-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Jarrod Parker Elbow 60-day DL (3/13), out for season
03/31/16 P R.J. Alvarez Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

Houston Astros

07/09/16 LF Colby Rasmus Ear is downgraded to not expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday vs. Oakland Athletics
07/09/16 RF George Springer Rest is not expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday vs. Oakland Athletics

Tony's Pick: Take the Athletics

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink