Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics Prediction, Odds and Preview - 09/26/2021

Game Time: 4:07 pm ET, Sunday September 26, 2021

Venue:  RingCentral Coliseum, Oakland, CA

Where to Watch:  MLB Network

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Astros -120, Athletics +100; Over/Under: 9 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Astros -120, Athletics +100; Over/Under: 9 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Astros -115, Athletics -105; Over/Under: 9 runs

 

Houston Astros:  91-63 (1st place, AL West)

Oakland Athletics:  83-71 (3rd place, AL West)

 

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Houston Astros:  7-3 last 10

Oakland Athletics:  6-4 last 10

 

 

 

The Astros are coming into this game after losing the series opener on Friday in a blowout fashion 14-2. They are now on a 2 game losing streak but have still won 4 of their last 6 games. This will be the series finale of this three-game series between these two teams with Saturday's game still to be played, that result is pending. Framber Valdez will be getting the nod for Saturday's game while Jake Odorizzi will be the starting pitcher on the mound for this game on Sunday. He is 6-7 with a 4.22 ERA this season. Houston has had some success with him recently as they have won 4 of their last 5 games with him as the starter. In his last start, he allowed 0 ER and 0 BB with 1 K on 2 hits through 1.1 IP against the Texas Rangers back on Monday the 13th. This will be his first time going up against the A's lineup this season. Their offense has scored 33 runs in their last 5 games averaging almost 7 runs scored per game in that span and they have allowed their opponents to score 27 runs against them in that same span allowing over 5 runs per game.

 

The Athletics are coming into this game after winning the first game of this series in a much needed win for them. That win snapped a 4 game losing streak that they were on. After winning 2 of the 3 games in their series with the Kansas City Royals, they went on to complete a sweep over the LA Angels in 3 games but then got swept themselves by the Seattle Mariners in a four-game series. This will be the series finale on Sunday with their game 2 on Saturday still to be played, the result is pending. Sean Manaea will be the starter for Saturday's game while Paul Blackburn will be throwing the first pitch for them in this game on Sunday. He is 1-3 with a 5.17 ERA. He has only pitched in 7 games as a starter this year and the team is 3-4 in those games that he pitched in. In his last start, he allowed 4 runs, 3 being ER, and 1 BB with 5 strikeouts on 6 hits through 4 innings of work against the Seattle Mariners last Tuesday. This will be his first time facing the Astros lineup this season. Their offense has scored 24 runs in their last 5 games averaging almost 5 runs scored per game in that span and they have allowed their opponents to score 21 runs against them in that same span allowing a little over 4 runs per game.

 

The Astros have not clinched the playoffs yet but with a 6 game lead in the American League West division they pretty much have it wrapped up there. The A's are the ones struggling to make it in the Wild-Card race as they are 4 games out of a Wild Card right now. The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox are currently in the spots while the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners both sit ahead of the A's just 2 games out. They have a very big mountain to climb and it starts with winning every single game for the rest of the season. Losing is not an option and they showed that on Friday by putting up 14 runs after getting swept by the Mariners in the series before which lost them some major ground. The value in this game is to bet on the A's to carry over their momentum and keep winning games and scoring lots of runs.

 

Astros Athletics Prediction:  Our free MLB Pick for Sunday September 26, 2021 (4:07 pm ET start time) is Athletics 7 Astros 3.

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Houston Astros: 28-22 (+0.6 units) on the money line when the money line is -100 to -150. 47-24 (+10.1 units) on the money line against division opponents.

Oakland Athletics: 83-71 (-2.9 units) on the money line in all games. 34-34 (-11.4 units) on the money line against division opponents.

 

 

Houston Astros:  M. Brantley (LF) Ques Fri - Knee injury. J. Odorizzi (SP) Prob Sun - Foot injury. Z. Greinke (SP) Out indefinitely - Neck injury.

Oakland Athletics:  S. Moll (RP) Out indefinitely - Personal. M. Fiers (SP) out for season - Elbow  injury. D. Jefferies (RP) out for season - Elbow  injury. J. Lowrie (2B) Ques Sat - Hand injury.

 

 

Houston Astros: Yuli Gurriel is one player to watch in this MLB game. He leads his team in batting average and in hits. The Astros will need to start getting into their playoff form so look for him to start heating up as he has in recent games and carry that into the postseason.

 

Oakland Athletics: Starling Marte is one player to watch in this matchup. He leads his team in batting average and in stolen bases. He can be a really dangerous baserunner so look for him to get on base here and get himself into scoring position for his team to give them a chance as they need wins badly now.

 

"I was just trying to command my pitches, hit my spots. When guys are swinging and you hit your spot, it's going to be tough for them to put a good swing on the ball." - Frankie Montas after winning the series opener on Friday.

 

 

"You hate to lose, especially by a large margin. They beat us pretty good tonight." - Dusty Baker after a bad loss on Friday.

 

 

 

J. Altuve 2B

A. Bregman 3B

Y. Gurriel 1B

Y. Alvarez DH

C. Correa SS

K. Tucker RF

C. McCormick LF

J. Meyers CF

M. Maldonado C

 

J. Harrison 2B

S. Marte CF

M. Olson 1B

M. Canha DH

S. Brown RF

M. Chapman 3B

T. Kemp LF

Y. Gomes C

E. Andrus SS

 

Batting Average:  Y. Gurriel (.315)

Hits:  Y. Gurriel (161)

Home Runs:  Y. Alvarez (32)

RBI:  Y. Alvarez (101)

Stolen Bases:  K. Tucker (14)

Wins:  L. McCullers Jr. (12)

Saves:  R. Pressly (25)

ERA:  P. Solomon (0.90)

 

Batting Average:  S. Marte (.315)

Hits:  M. Olson (147)

Home Runs:  M. Olson (38)

RBI:  M. Olson (109)

Stolen Bases:  S. Marte (45)

Wins:  F. Montas (13)

Saves:  L. Trivino (21)

ERA:  A. Chafin (1.78)

 

Managers:

Houston Astros: Dusty Baker (2nd season)

Oakland Athletics: Bob Melvin (11th season)

 

64 degrees F SUNNY, 78% humidity, 0% chance of rain, up to 12 mph wind speeds E.