2:10 pm
July 8

Athletics @ Astros

Who will WIN this matchup?

Oakland Athletics (49-39)

@ Houston Astros (54-33)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Montas (OAK): 7-7; 4.63 ERA

McCullers Jr. (HOU) 6-1; 2.97 ERA

 

Current odds:

Oakland Athletics: (+155)

Houston Astros: (-170)

 

• Prior to the current skid that has featured 12 losses over the past 17 games and an 0-5-1 record in the past six series, the Oakland Athletics made the most of every opportunity in close games. Over the course of a 162-game schedule, these things tend to balance out, and after dropping a 4-3 decision to the Houston Astros on Wednesday, the Athletics fell to 13-13 in one-run games. Oakland has dropped six of its past seven one-run games heading into the finale of a three-game series at Houston on Thursday.

• The one big thing that went wrong for Oakland on Wednesday occurred in the sixth inning after the Athletics pulled even at 3-3. Astros left fielder Michael Brantley completed a crucial double play by erasing Ramon Laureano at home plate as he attempted to score on a Sean Murphy flyout.

• The second-place Athletics fell to 3-9 against the first-place Astros this year, with Oakland 5 1/2 games out in the American League West.

• Frankie Montas (7-7, 4.63 ERA) will start on Thursday as Oakland attempts to avert a series sweep. The right-hander is 2-5 with a 4.38 ERA over his past nine starts, including a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, when he allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Montas is 5-4 with a 4.06 ERA in 11 career appearances (nine starts) against the Astros, including a 1-1 record and 2.45 ERA in two starts this season.

• Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. (6-1, 2.97 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Astros on Thursday. McCullers is 5-0 with a 2.38 ERA over his past nine starts, with his five-decision winning streak tied with Luis Garcia for the longest by a Houston pitcher this season. McCullers is 6-2 with a 3.66 ERA over 11 career starts against the Athletics, including a pair of starts to open the season in which he went 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 13 strikeouts against six walks in 10 innings.

• The Astros extended their winning streak to six games Wednesday, improved to 41-19 against teams with at least a .500 record and moved a season-high 21 games over .500. Closing the unofficial first half on a high remains a foremost goal for the Astros, starting with a sweep of Oakland.

6/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Houston Astros
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