Astros vs. Athletics Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, May 21, 2023

May 21, 2023, by Matt Rooney MLB Predictions

The Oakland Athletics (10-37 look to avoid the sweep when they visit the Houston Astros (26-19) in the final game of a three-game set. Oddsmakers have listed the Astros as -367 favorites, while the Athletics are +294 underdogs to pick up a win.

Framber Valdez will get the ball for Houston while Oakland will counter with James Kaprielian.

Astros vs. Athletics Odds

Astros odds to win: -367
Athletics odds to win: +294
Spread: Astros -1.5
Total: 8.5 runs

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Game Time and Information

Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023
Time: 2:10 PM ET
TV: SportsNet SW

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Who Will Win Astros vs. Athletics?

Astros and Athletics Betting Trends

The Astros have been favored on the moneyline 31 total times this season. They’ve finished 17-14 in those games.

Houston has ynot played as moneyline favorites of -367 or shorter.

This season, the Athletics have won 10 out of the 46 games, or 21.7%, in which they’ve been the underdog.

Oakland has not entered a game this season as a bigger underdog on the moneyline than the +294 odds on it winning this game.

The Astros have played in 45 games with set over/under, and have combined with opponents to go over the total 22 times (22-22-1).

The Athletics and their opponents have hit the over in 27 of their 47 games with a total this season.

Astros Stats & Insights

The Astros rank 18th in runs scored with 199, 4.4 per game.

Houston is 25th in baseball with 40 home runs. They average 0.9 per game.

The Astros’ .246 batting average ranks 15th in the majors.

Houston strikes out 8.1 times per game to rank sixth in the majors.

The pitching staff for the Astros has a collective 9.9 K/9 to lead MLB.

Houston’s 3.28 team ERA ranks first across all MLB pitching staffs.

Athletics Stats & Insights

The Athletics have scored the 26th-most runs in the league this season with just 176 (3.7 per game).

Oakland has hit 53 homers this season, which ranks 13th in the majors.

The Athletics rank 27th in MLB with a team batting average of just .228.

Oakland ranks 29th in strikeouts per game (9.5) among MLB offenses.

The Athletics strike out just 7.7 batters per nine innings as a pitching staff, which ranks 28th in MLB.

Oakland has the 30th-ranked ERA (7.00) in the majors this season.

Astros Key Players to Watch

Valdez makes the start for the Astros, his 10th of the season. He is 3-4 with a 2.84 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings pitched.

Yordan Alvarez is batting .292 this season with a team-high 10 home runs and 41 RBI.

Kyle Tucker has collected 45 hits this season and has an OBP of .360. He’s slugging .469 on the year.

Alex Bregman is slashing .224/.335/.371 this season for the Astros.

Jeremy Pena has collected 44 hits this season and has an OBP of .296. He’s slugging .425 on the year.

Athletics Key Players to Watch

The Athletics’ Kaprielian (0-3) will make his fifth start of the season.

Brent Rooker leads the Athletics in home runs (11), runs batted in (31) and has put up a team-high batting average of .292.

Esteury Ruiz is hitting .286 with 12 doubles, a triple, a home run and eight walks.

Ryan Noda has nine doubles, a triple, four home runs and 31 walks while hitting .221.

Shea Langeliers is batting .221 with four doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 13 walks.

Astros and Athletics Injuries

Astros: Michael Brantley: 10 Day IL (Shoulder), Jose Urquidy: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Luis Garcia: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Parker Mushinski: 15 Day IL (Spine)

Athletics: Seth Brown: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Trevor May: 15 Day IL (Personal), Zach Jackson: 15 Day IL (Undisclosed), Drew Rucinski: 15 Day IL (Illness), Mason Miller: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Paul Blackburn: 15 Day IL (Finger), Dany Jimenez: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Freddy Tarnok: 60 Day IL (Undisclosed), Kirby Snead: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Manny Piña: 60 Day IL (Wrist), Ken Waldichuk: day-to-day (Calf)