Oakland Athletics vs Houston Astros Prediction, 4/10/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Oakland Athletics vs Houston Astros

Date: Saturday, April 10, 2021

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

Odds/Point Spread: Oakland (+115) Houston (-172)

Jose Urquidy and the Houston Astros (6-1, 1st in AL West) host the Oakland Athletics (1-7, 5th in AL West) at Minute Maid Park on Saturday. The Athletics open this contest at +115 while the Astros are priced at -172. The over/under opens at 10. The starting pitchers will be Frankie Montas and Jose Urquidy.

The Athletics have recorded 10 two-baggers as a team and have hit 3 balls out of the stadium. Oakland has a slugging % of .261 and have been called out on strikes 76 times, while taking a walk on 28 occasions. As a team, the Oakland Athletics are putting up 2.4 runs per contest, which is 30th in the league. They have accumulated 18 runs batted in as well as 43 base knocks so far this season, and their average at the plate is .170. They have accounted for 19 runs scored and hold an OBP of .266.

The Athletics have compiled a team earned run average of 7.13 over the course of the season (30th in the league), and their staff has struck out 60 hitters. Their K/BB ratio is 1.71 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.71. Athletics pitchers have conceded 16 home runs and 59 runs in total (1st in MLB). They have walked 35 opposing hitters and their FIP is 6.20 as a squad on the year.

The Athletics relief pitchers have inherited 19 base runners over the course of the season and 47.4% of those players ended up crossing the plate. Athletics bullpen pitchers have gone to the mound with opponents on base 12 times and also have had 4 appearances in high leverage situations. The Athletics have dispatched 31 relievers to the hill this year. 

Montas has thrown 263 innings and has tallied 266 strikeouts so far in his MLB career. Montas (18-15 mark in his career) has a FIP of 4.14 and he has faced 1,151 batters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 4.40 (129 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.418. He has allowed 275 hits (9.4 hits per nine innings) with 99 free passes.

The Astros hold a team slugging % of .534 and they earn 7.29 runs per game (2nd in the league). They have recorded 17 doubles, while walking 25 times as well as racking up 51 runs. Houston has hit 15 home runs for the year and 47 RBIs. They have been called out on strikes on 56 occasions (23rd in the league) and have a total of 73 hits. The Houston Astros have a team on-base percentage of .358 as well as a batting average of .289 over the course of the season.

The Astros hold a team WHIP of 1.081 and have a FIP of 3.40 as a pitching staff so far this year. They rank 22nd in the league as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 44. The Houston pitching staff have conceded 20 runs so far this season while holding a team ERA of 2.61 (18 earned runs surrendered). Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.43 (56 strikeouts against 23 walks). They have given up 3 dingers and they allow 2.90 runs per 9 innings (4th in the league).

Houston bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 25.0% of 16 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 7 times in high leverage situations and also on 7 occasions with runners on. With 10 save situations, the Astros have amassed 7 holds in addition to 1 blown save. They are currently ranked 17th in the league with a save percentage of 50.0%, and they have sent 24 relief pitchers onto the diamond this year. Houston has called on relievers to enter the game in 2 save chances and they have walked away with 1 save.

In his career, Urquidy has conceded 64 base hits and he has 62 punch outs in 75 frames. He has given up a total of 29 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.080 and a FIP of 4.0. His K/BB ratio is 3.65 and he has gone up against 302 opposing batters in his pro baseball career. Urquidy (3-2 record in his career) has a 3.48 ERA while conceding 7.7 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Houston (-172)

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