The Houston Astros (22-21, 6-15 away) and Oakland Athletics (25-15, 16-7 home) continue their five-game series with Game 4 on Wednesday night. The two teams played a pair of 7-inning contests on Tuesday, splitting the two. Oakland took Game 1, 4-2, while Houston took the nightcap, 5-4.
The first pitch is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. EST at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. Oakland is a -155 favorite on the moneyline, and the over/under has opened at nine runs.
What to Know – Houston Astros
It has been a down year for the Astros, who find themselves 4.5 games back of the Oakland with under a month to go in the regular season. Houston is just 3-7 over their last 10 games, including a stretch of seven straight losses.
Luis Garcia (0-0, 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP) makes a spot start for the visitors after Lance McCullers landed on the IL earlier in the week. Garcia’s first career start comes after the right-hander made his big league debut on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels.
Carlos Correa has bounced back after spending the better part of the last two seasons to lead the Astros offensively. Correa sports a .295 batting average to lead the team in hits (43) and on-base percentage (.360).
Kyle Tucker leads Houston in home runs (8) and runs batted in (37). The 23-year old is playing in his first full season in the major leagues.
What to Know – Oakland Athletics
Oakland is 3-3 since returning from a pause in play due to COVID-19 postponements. The Athletics maintain a healthy first-place in the American League West and are tied for the least amount of losses in the AL with 15.
The home team will send out Jesus Luzardo (2-2, 4.23 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) to face the Astros. The young, 22-year old southpaw has pitched 38.1 innings this season, allowing 18 earned runs on 39 hits while striking out 38. Luzardo pitched well the last time he faced Houston, tossing 5.2 innings and surrendering two earned run on five hits with five strikeouts.
Oakland isn’t flashy on offense, sporting the 26th ranked team batting average. Former Astro Robbie Grossman leads the host with a .267 average and .398 on-base percentage.
Matt Chapman and Matt Olson provided the pop for the offense, with each having amassed 10 home runs to-date. Stephen Piscotty has the team lead in RBI with 28.
The Pick is In
Luzardo has not looked sharp, dropping his last two starts while giving up seven earned runs over 11.1 innings pitched. The Astros are countering with a rookie who has logged just 4.1 major league innings. Oakland has outscored the Astros 14-7 so far this series and has looked comfortable against all Astros pitching.
With not much to go by from a pitching standpoint, we like to turn to the hot team. The Athletics moneyline is the safe bet, with an additional wager on the over (9 runs).
