As the MLB season pushes through September, a matchup between the Oakland Athletics and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park stands out for today’s free MLB tips. With the Athletics at 63-82 and the Astros at a more robust 77-67, the game not only underscores a season of struggles and strengths but also an opportunity for bettors to gauge the value in uneven matchups.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros 9/11/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 8:10 PM ET |
| Where: | Minute Maid Park |
| Watch: | NBCS-CA, ESPN, MLB.TV |
| Athletics odds: | +188 Moneyline |
| Astros odds: | -227 Moneyline |
| Total Line: | 8.5 |
Oakland Athletics (63-82) vs. Houston Astros (77-67)
Oakland’s season has been less than impressive, with a batting average of .234 and an ERA of 4.32, which paints a dismal picture of their class in the forthcoming duel against the beefier Astros. In their previous matches they appear as a team searching for the right formula as they lost narrowly to Houston 4-3 on the eve of this match but also won only one game out of four played against the teams from Detroit and Seattle. Most of their inconsistency, particularly when it comes to away matches, still plays against their season’s outlook.
| Oakland Athletics Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 10, 2024 | HOU | 4-3 | Win |
| Sep 8, 2024 | DET | 1-9 | Lose |
| Sep 7, 2024 | DET | 1-2 | Lose |
| Sep 6, 2024 | DET | 7-6 | Win |
| Sep 5, 2024 | SEA | 4-6 | Lose |
On the other side, it is seen that the Astros are doing better as they have a batsman’s average of .261 and a better slugging percentage of .418. Although they have lost some recent games, including to Arizona and Cincinnati, their better performance in home games and history of beating Oakland at Minute Maid Park makes them tough. Last season, they played the Athletics and fell zero-hitter to them, which could also be a fuel for their comeback.
| Houston Astros Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 10, 2024 | OAK | 0-3 | Lose |
| Sep 8, 2024 | ARI | 4-10 | Lose |
| Sep 7, 2024 | ARI | 2-0 | Win |
| Sep 6, 2024 | ARI | 1-6 | Lose |
| Sep 5, 2024 | CIN | 0-1 | Lose |
Joey Estes (6-7, 4.46 ERA) vs. Hunter Brown (11-7, 3.41 ERA)
Joey Estes has rather interesting mathematics heading into the game. He still has a 4.46 ERA and 1.13 WHIP after 111 innings pitched but has struggled throughout the stretches. Joey Estes has shown that he can make it difficult for opposing batters to get hits off of him but has been somewhat susceptible to giving up long balls, 18 in this season. His control and the ability to keep the number of walks low will be absolutely important in a place where he does not have a good history.
On the contrary, this is not how Hunter Brown sees things in Houston. He has not done that bad considering statistics like his 3.41 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 153 innings pitched. Hunter Brown is doing well on pitching and strikeouts. He sent back 161 batters, this will be a huge headache for the Athletics’ hitters, and it has been a nightmare for them this season.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Houston Astros -227, Total Odds: 8.5
The betting odds lean heavily towards Houston, reflective of both teams’ current form and historical matchups. The total over/under at 8.5 is teetering on the edge, considering both teams’ recent performances and the pitchers on the mound.
Oakland Athletics Betting Trends
The Athletics’ betting trends indicate a tendency for high-scoring games, with the total going OVER in 9 of their last 13. However, their record against Houston, especially at Minute Maid Park, is dismal, having won only 1 of their last 6 encounters.
Houston Astros Betting Trends
Houston shows a mixed trend with the total going OVER in their recent home games but UNDER when facing Oakland. Their home advantage and historical dominance in this pairing suggest a potentially lower-scoring game than the odds suggest.
Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros 9/11/24 Betting Picks
Based on the pitching matchup, trends and the pitcher’s current form, the Astros will win but more likely in the comeback when Brown gets into the mound who is capable of dictating the games when pitching. Placing money on Houston spread looks to be a good option, but given the pitching abilities and strengths, the total does not look too high and heading toward the UNDER may be wise in spite of the Athletics recently more on offense.
Expert handicappers may want to consider placing prop bets for strikeouts or taking the underdog for one of the individual innings, nevertheless, there is no question of who will win this contest as Houston will take the W on their home court. Both teams are expressing day-to-day fluctuations in performance thanks to which the game will be much closer than the odds imply, yet it is not Houston who provides the most confidence in that game.