Oakland Athletics vs Houston Astros Prediction, 7/15/2022 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Oakland Athletics vs Houston Astros

Date: Friday, July 15, 2022

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

Minute Maid Park is the location where the Houston Astros (57-30) will meet the Oakland Athletics (30-60) on Friday. The starting pitchers will be Cole Irvin and Justin Verlander.

As a squad, the Oakland Athletics are notching 3.3 runs per game, which has them at 29th in the league. They have accumulated 297 runs scored and hold an OBP of .272. The Athletics have hit 136 two-baggers as a team and have hit 68 balls out of the stadium. They have tallied 274 runs batted in as well as 617 hits on the year, and their average at the plate sits at .210. Oakland is slugging .331 and have struck out 751 times, while drawing a walk on 224 occasions.

Get all of our MLB Picks Today

The Athletics hold a team ERA of 4.39 over the course of the season (24th in the league), and they have rung up 677 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 296 batters and their FIP is 4.30 as a unit for the season. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.29 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.33. Athletics pitchers have allowed 100 long balls and also 415 runs in total (23rd in the league).

The Athletics have dispatched 304 relievers to the hill on the campaign. The relievers have inherited 166 base runners on the season and 28.3% of them ended up crossing the plate. They have earned 19 saves on the year and have blown 16 out of their 35 save opportunities. The Athletics relief pitchers have compiled a save rate of 54.3% and has stepped onto the mound in 95 save situations. The bullpen are sitting with 58 holds on the year (5th in the league). Athletics relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 109 times as well as having 99 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Oakland Athletics have 2,305 putouts this season, in addition to 789 assists and 55 errors. Their fielding rate is at .983 which has them ranked 21st in professional baseball, and have 77 double plays. The Athletics have turned 69.5% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 6,915 innings, ranking them 18th in baseball.

Irvin has pitched in 313 innings and has 218 punch outs during his career. His earned run average is 4.34 (151 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.304. He has allowed 334 base hits (9.6 hits per nine innings) with 74 walks. Irvin (15-24 career win-loss record) is the owner of a FIP of 4.35 and he has gone up against 1,334 opposing batters during his time in the majors.

Houston has knocked in 125 home runs on the campaign as well as 382 runs batted in. They have 146 two-baggers, while taking a walk 316 times as well as racking up 391 runs. The Houston Astros have tallied a team OBP of .321 in addition to a batting average of .241 so far this season. The Astros hold a slugging % of .427 and they are earning 4.49 runs per game (14th in MLB). They have been rung up on 655 occasions (28th in baseball) and have notched a total of 696 hits.

The Houston pitching staff have surrendered 294 runs so far this year while holding an ERA of 3.00 (256 earned runs surrendered). They have yielded 76 home runs and they relinquish 3.44 runs per 9 innings (3rd in MLB). The Astros have a WHIP of 1.106 in addition to having a FIP of 3.53 as a team on the campaign. Their K/BB ratio is 3.02 (771 strikeouts vs 255 walks). They come in at 1st in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 596.

Houston has called on bullpen pitchers to take the mound in 33 save opportunities and they have earned 26 saves. They are ranked 2nd in the league holding a save rate of 78.8%, and they have sent 260 bullpen pitchers to the hill on the season. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 85 times in high leverage situations and on 56 occasions with base runners. Houston relievers have an inherited score percentage of 26.7% out of their 86 inherited base runners. With 88 save situations, the Astros have accrued 55 holds in addition to 7 blown saves.

The Houston Astros have gotten 63 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .986 (11th in MLB). The Astros have recorded 675 assists, 42 errors and have earned a total of 2,258 putouts so far this year. In their 6,774 innings on the field, the Astros have a defensive efficiency of 72.8% (1st in professional baseball).

In his career, Verlander has conceded 2,609 base hits and he has 3,111 strikeouts in 3,091 frames. He has allowed a total of 1,128 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.125 and having a FIP of 3.4. His K/BB ratio is 3.58 and he has faced 12,613 batters so far in his pro baseball career. Verlander (237-132 record in his career) has earned a 3.28 ERA and has allowed 7.6 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Houston

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