Free MLB Picks Today: Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics 5/19/23

The Oakland Athletics (10-35) take one of the least productive lineups in MLB on the road to face the Houston Astros (24-19) at Minute Maid Park on Friday to open a three-game series.

The Athletics are playing their first of seven games on the road after closing out a tough seven-game homestand (2-5). They won only one out of three in their last series against the Diamondbacks, dropping the finale 5-3 on Wednesday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Jace Peterson was 1 for 2 with two walks and one run. The Astros are in the midst of a six-game homestand. They are coming off a three-game sweep of the Cubs, taking the finale 7-6 on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park for their fourth straight win.

Alex Bregman went 3 for 4 with a home run and a double. He scored three runs and had two RBIs. Jake Meyers added a home run and two RBIs.

The teams are meeting for the first time this season. The Astros won the 2022 season series between the AL West rivals (12-7), including three out of four in their most recent meeting at Minute Maid Park in September.

ON THE MOUND

Ken Waldichuk (1-2, 7.02 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Oakland. The LHP allowed four runs (three earned) over five innings in his last start, a 9-7 road win over the Rangers on May 12. He scattered seven hits while striking out five and walking five in the no-decision.

Waldichuk made one start against the Astros in 2022, an 11-2 road loss on September 18. He surrendered five runs on five hits over 2.2 innings, striking out three and walking two.

For Houston, righty Brandon Bielak (0-1, 3.29 ERA) gets the start. In his last start on Saturday, Bielak took a no-decision on the road against the White Sox. He threw five innings and gave up one run on eight hits, striking out four, in the 3-1 loss.

AT THE PLATE

The Oakland offense is averaging 3.8 runs per game for the season, fourth lowest in the league, with a slash line of .229/.311/.383. Brent Rooker leads the team in OPS at 1.012. The left fielder is slashing .295/.408/.605 with 11 home runs, 30 RBIs, and 21 runs over 38 games.

Against righties like Bielak this season, the A’s have a .661 OPS, fourth lowest in the league. Rooker also is the team’s strongest performer against right-handers with a .923 OPS in 89 at-bats. Houston is slashing .244/.312/.377 for the season and averaging 4.4 runs per game.

Yordan Alvarez leads the team with a .939 OPS. The left fielder has nine home runs, 39 RBIs, and 23 runs scored with a slash line of .287/.388/.551.

The ‘Stros have a .729 OPS against left-handers in 2023. With a .912 OPS over 43 at-bats, Jeremy Pena has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Oakland is on a four-game losing streak on the road, bringing their record to 5-15 in 2023. The A’s have scored 4.6 runs per game away from home, while allowing 8.3 runs. Houston has won three in a row at their home ballpark.

The ‘Stros are 11-11 at home this season, averaging 4.5 runs per game while surrendering 4.0. Houston is 7-3 in the last 10 games at Minute Maid Park between the teams with an average scoreline of 5.6-2.9.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Athletics are fifth in the AL West, 17 games behind the division-leading Rangers. The Astros are second in the AL West, two games behind the Rangers.