Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics odds, predictions, picks and bets

The Houston Astros (78-43) visit the Oakland Athletics (68-52) in the opener of a four-game set at Oakland Coliseum Thursday at 10:07 p.m. Eastern. The Astros won nine of 11 games in their season series.

RHP Aaron Sanchez is 5-14 with a 5.60 ERA in 25 starts. He is 2-0 with 0.82 ERA (1 ER, 11 IP) in two starts since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays. Last outing he allowed one run on three hits and three walks with six K’s in five innings of a 23-2 rout at the Baltimore Orioles Saturday. Sanchez pitched a combined no-hitter in his Astros debut Aug. 3, a 9- 0 win vs. the Seattle Mariners. Mike Fiers is 11-3 with 3.30 ERA and a 99/42 K-BB ratio in25 starts, including a no hitter against the Cincinnati Reds May 7.

The Astros are 2-0 in Sanchez's starts and 15-9 in Fiers' starts. The A's are 37-21 at home.

The Astros are 33-28 on the road, while the A's are 37-21 at home. The Astros have won both Sanchez and Fiers' starts.

Michael Brantley is a .357 career hitter (10-for-28) with two doubles vs. Fiers and .360 career against Sanchez. Kris Davis is 4- for-7 with one homer in his career vs Sanchez and 4 for 7 against the A's.

The A's are the best bet despite winning just two of 11 games in the season series. The Astros are favored at -123.

Houston Astros play Oakland Athletics. The A's are +1.5, while the Astros are -1, they are both winning. Oakland has a better home record at 65-54, Houston is 29-32 on the road.

Houston Astros are 53-64-4 O/U on the year, while the Oakland Athletics are 55- 64-1. The O-U is 4-7 in the 11 head-to-head meetings in 2019.

Johnny's record since July 19 is 37-23-1. Strongest plays are 17-9.