Oakland Athletics vs Houston Astros Prediction, 5/21/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Oakland Athletics vs Houston Astros

Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

Odds/Point Spread: Oakland (+380) Houston (-475)

The Houston Astros (25-19) will take on the Oakland Athletics (10-36) at Minute Maid Park on Sunday. The odds on this game have the Athletics at +380 while the Astros are sitting at -475. The total is set at 8.5. The pitchers expected to start will be Kyle Muller and Framber Valdez.

The Athletics have compiled 63 two-baggers as a team and have hit 53 baseballs out of the park. Oakland is slugging .380 and have been called out on strikes 434 times, while being walked on 160 occasions. As a squad, the Oakland Athletics are knocking in 3.8 runs/g, which has them sitting at 27th in the league. They have tallied 168 runs batted in and 355 base knocks so far this year, and their average at the plate sits at .229. They have a total of 174 runs while having a team OBP of .311.

Get all of our MLB Expert Picks

They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.54 and their pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.69. Athletics pitchers have yielded 80 home runs in addition to 339 runs (30th in the league). Oakland has yielded 461 base hits (10.2 per 9 innings) in addition to 320 earned runs. The Athletics have compiled a team earned run average of 7.08 this year (30th in MLB), and their staff has rung up 347 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 226 opposing batters and their FIP is 6.06 as a unit so far this season.

The Athletics relief pitchers have a save percentage of 30.8% and has entered the game in 26 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 93 runners this season with 44.1% of them earned a run for their team. Athletics bullpen pitchers have entered the game with players on base 60 times as well as having 56 appearances in high leverage situations. The Athletics have sent 159 relievers to the hill on the campaign. The relievers have accumulated 12 holds on the campaign (29th in baseball). They have tallied 4 saves on the campaign and have blown 9 of their 13 save chances.

The Athletics have transformed 67.2% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 3,663 innings on the field, which ranks them 27th in MLB. The Oakland Athletics have earned 1,221 putouts on the campaign, in addition to 358 assists and 31 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .981 which has them ranked 30th in MLB, and have accumulated 33 double plays.

Muller has thrown 91 innings and has accounted for 79 K's so far in his pro baseball career. His earned run average is 6.33 (64 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.637. He has given up 100 hits (9.9 hits per 9 innings) with 49 walks. Muller (4-8 career mark) is the owner of a FIP of 4.84 and he has faced 419 opposing batters in the major leagues.

Houston has accounted for 39 long balls so far this year to go along with 188 RBIs. They have 75 two-baggers, while getting a free base 134 times as well as recording 196 runs. The Houston Astros have a team on-base percentage of .315 and a batting average of .246 on the campaign. The Astros hold a team SLG% of .380 and they tally 4.45 runs per game (15th in MLB). They have struck out on 356 occasions (25th in the league) and have recorded 363 base knocks.

The Houston pitching staff have relinquished 161 runs for the season while holding a team ERA of 3.31 (144 earned runs allowed). They have given up 46 HR's and they concede 3.70 runs per 9 innings (2nd in the league). The Astros have a WHIP of 1.222 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.75 as a pitching staff this season. Their K/BB ratio is 9.80 (427 strikeouts against 127 free passes). They come in at 7th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 351.

With 39 save situations, the Astros have compiled 21 holds and 5 blown saves. Houston has had bullpen pitchers enter the contest in 17 save chances and they have tallied 12 saves. Their relievers have stepped onto the hill 38 times in high leverage situations in addition to 22 occasions with runners on. Houston relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 23.7% of 38 inherited base runners. They are ranked 7th in the league with a save percentage of 70.6%, and they have sent 142 relief pitchers onto the diamond on the season.

The Houston Astros have turned 38 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .990 (4th in baseball). The Astros have accrued 361 assists, 15 errors and have a total of 1,175 putouts for the season. In their 3,525 innings on the field, the Astros have a efficiency on defense of 68.9% (16th in professional baseball).

Valdez (44-27 career win-loss mark) has earned a 3.32 earned run average while allowing 7.7 hits per nine innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.54 and he has gone up against 2,401 hitters in his pro baseball career. He has given up 211 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.239 and a FIP of 3.6. In his MLB career, Valdez has allowed 487 hits while he has earned 562 K's in 571 frames.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Oakland (+380)

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