Oakland Athletics vs Houston Astros Prediction, 9/11/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Oakland Athletics vs Houston Astros

Date: Monday, September 11, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

Odds/Point Spread: Oakland (+330) Houston (-425)

The Oakland Athletics (44-98) are headed to Minute Maid Park on Monday where they will take on the Houston Astros (81-62). The odds on this game have the Athletics at +330 and the Astros are coming in at -425. The total comes in at 9.5. The expected starting pitchers are Ken Waldichuk and Framber Valdez.

The Athletics have earned 200 doubles as a squad and have hit 150 balls out of the stadium. Oakland has a slugging % of .372 and have struck out 1,294 times, while being walked on 445 occasions. As a squad, the Oakland Athletics are scoring 3.7 runs per outing, which puts them at 30th in MLB. They have 504 runs batted in as well as 1,050 hits so far this year, while their team batting average sits at .225. They have earned a total of 523 runs and hold an OBP of .301.

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The Athletics are sitting with a team earned run average of 5.58 on the year (29th in the league), and the staff has rung up 1,139 batters. Athletics pitchers have given up 188 long balls in addition to 821 total runs (29th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 611 batters and their FIP sits at 5.07 as a team for the year. Oakland has allowed 1,299 base hits (9.4 per 9 innings) as well as 772 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 1.86 and the pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.53.

The Athletics have dispatched 475 relief pitchers to the hill this season. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 262 base runners so far this season with 39.3% of those players crossed home plate. They have compiled 27 saves on the year and have missed out on 25 of 52 save opportunities. The Athletics bullpen have compiled a save rate of 51.9% and has come into the game in 110 save situations. The relief pitchers have racked up 55 holds so far this season (28th in baseball). Athletics bullpen pitchers have entered the contest with runners on 167 times in addition to having 163 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Athletics have converted 67.6% of balls hit into play into outs in their 11,211 innings on the diamond, which ranks them 27th in pro baseball. The Oakland Athletics have notched a total of 3,737 putouts thus far, in addition to 1,119 assists and 86 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .983 which is 27th in the majors, and have a total of 109 double plays.

Waldichuk has thrown 1,830 innings and is sitting with 2,125 strikeouts during his pro baseball career. Waldichuk (143-75 record in his career) has a FIP of 3.16 and he has gone up against 7,369 batters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.20 (651 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.095. He has allowed 1,536 base hits (7.6 hits per 9 innings) and has had 468 free passes.

Houston has tallied 197 home runs this season to go along with 715 runs batted in. They have hit 247 doubles, while walking 488 times and putting up 738 runs. The Houston Astros have accounted for an OBP of .332 in addition to a batting average of .260 over the course of the season. The Astros hold a team slugging percentage of .436 and they score 5.16 runs per game (5th in baseball). They have been called out on strikes on 1,100 instances (28th in the league) and have a total of 1,282 base hits.

The Houston pitching staff have surrendered 623 runs for the year while holding an ERA of 3.98 (565 earned runs yielded). They have yielded 179 homers and they concede 4.39 runs per 9 innings (10th in the league). The Astros hold a team WHIP of 1.290 in addition to having a FIP of 4.34 as a team for the season. Their K/BB ratio comes in at 9.00 (1,284 strikeouts vs 471 walks). They are currently ranked 15th in MLB as a staff in total hits surrendered with 1,177.

Houston has had relievers step onto the hill in 57 save chances and they have converted 40 saves. They are ranked 5th in MLB with a save rate of 70.2%, and they have dispatched 453 relief pitchers onto the diamond on the year. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 138 times in high leverage situations in addition to 86 occasions with runners on. Houston bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 31.4% out of 140 inherited runners. Sitting with 136 save situations, the Astros have recorded 78 holds in addition to 17 blown saves.

The Houston Astros have gotten 129 double plays and have a fielding rate of .986 (13th in the majors). The Astros have 1,200 assists, 71 errors and have 3,832 putouts on the campaign. In their 11,496 innings on the diamond, the Astros are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 69.4% (14th in pro baseball).

Valdez (3-10 career record) is the owner of a 5.16 ERA while allowing 8.7 hits per 9 innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.23 and he has gone up against 489 hitters during his career. He has conceded a total of 65 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.350 and having a FIP of 4.9. During his career, Valdez has conceded 110 hits while he has accumulated 96 K's in 113 frames.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Oakland (+330)

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