The Athletics host the Houston Astros on September 23, 2025. First pitch from Sutter Health Park is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. EDT; the game will be broadcast on SCHN.
Find my MLB betting preview and Astros vs Athletics prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more.
My Astros vs Athletics Prediction
- Astros vs Athletics picks: Over 9.5 (-140) | Play to Over 10 (-108)
My Astros vs Athletics best bet is for the Astros and A's to combine for over 9.5 runs. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Astros vs Athletics Odds
| Astros Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -210 | 10.5 -105o / -115u | -110 |
| Athletics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +175 | 10.5 -105o / -115u | -110 |
Astros vs Athletics Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Cristian Javier (HOU) | Stat | LHP Jeffrey Springs (ATH) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 | W-L | 10-11 |
| 0.7 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 1.6 |
| 4.45 / 3.35 | ERA /xERA | 4.17 / 4.36 |
| 3.89 / 4.86 | FIP / xFIP | 4.71 / 4.60 |
| 1.24 | WHIP | 1.22 |
| 11.8% | K-BB% | 12.0% |
| 31.9% | GB% | 31.9% |
| 95 | Stuff+ | 94 |
| 94 | Location+ | 99 |
Kenny Ducey’s Astros vs Athletics Preview
Houston Astros Betting Preview: Cristian Javier Pros and Cons
The Houston Astros are coming off a brutal sweep of the Mariners on the road and are now faced with a tragic number of three in the American League West and an uncertain outlook in the wild-card race. The offense has sputtered, hitting just .233 in the last two weeks with a .134 Isolated Power, and the discipline has also gone with a 6.3% walk rate 22.9% strikeout clip.
On the hill, Cristian Javier will look to rehab from injury in real time as he tries to act as the stopper for Houston. He's continued to pitch to a large complement of fly balls, but he hasn't covered himself with the strikeouts we've seen in the past. On top of that, he's picked up right where he left off with a high 10.3% walk rate.
Still, with all the fly balls his Expected Batting Average is low at .215 and his Expected Slugging is an acceptable .368. He may meet his maker in Sacramento, where the ball flies, but he may also find some reprieve in the Athletics' recent struggles with making contact.
Athletics Betting Preview: Springs' Home Struggles
The Athletics will turn to Jeffrey Springs once again after his best outing of the month, where he worked four innings with just one unearned run charged to his line. The lefty did match his three strikeouts with three walk, however, and that's something he's had an issue with in the last month and a half.
Springs' Expected Batting Average is still a hefty .260 — and while he's like Javier in that he surrenders a lot of fly balls, he's giving up a ton of dangerous contact. His Expected Slugging is .446, and at home he's had a very tough time keeping offenses down with a 5.00 ERA in 14 appearances.
The lefty has served up a whopping 17 homers at home, and while the Astros have struggled on the whole in the power department they've at least owned the 14th-best home run-to-fly ball ratio in the league over the last two weeks.
Astros vs Athletics Prediction, Betting Analysis
The Astros have performed worse against fly-ballers this year, and they've also struggled mightily at the plate of late, but I'm still going to have a hard time believing either of these fly-ball pitchers can survive a brutal environment for their kind.
The Athletics hit the ball hard, and they hit the ball in the air. They own the second-best OPS versus fly-ball pitchers, and they should rock Javier here of his issues with whiffs persist.
We have to trust in the Athletics' strengths, and their starter's rough tendencies for this environment.
Pick: Over 9.5 (-140) | Play to Over 10 (-108)
Moneyline
I won't be taking the moneyline for either team.
Run Line (Spread)
I'm going to pass on the spread as well.
Over/Under
The A's offense matches up well against Javier. Take the over until it's higher than 10.
