Pinnacle +134 BET365 +135 SportsInteraction +134 BetOnline +138

Posted at 12:00 PM EST. 

Oakland +138 over HOUSTON

4:05 PM EST. Bloodbath at the Coliseum last weekend, as the Astros rolled into Oakland and crushed the defending AL West champs in a four game sweep. The Astronauts subsequently whacked the A’s again in the first game of this series but Oakland got a big monkey off their backs with a much-needed win last night to run its record to 2-7. That win might spark a run but at the very least it makes the A’s playable again at a price here facing José Urquidy (RHP - HOU).

Urquidy looked really good on the surface in 2020 (2.73 ERA, 1.01 WHIP in 30 innings) but the problem is, his skills didn't follow suit (5.15 xERA). Five Sept starts followed an early COVID diagnosis. He acquitted himself nicely but with a woefully sub-par K% and a lot of help from fortunate hit% and strand%. In his first start this year, Urquidy’s first pitch strike rate was a weak 47%. His xERA was 5.30 and his swinging strike rate was 10.9%. Longer term durability is now on watch, but it doesn’t change his outlook as a back-of-the-rotation arm with reverse splits. Playable perhaps but not as the chalk in this range.

Frankie Montas (RHP - OAK) entered 2020 with some good breakout intrigue, but it was derailed by a back issue. The healthy version of Montas looked dominant at times in 2019 due to his splitter. His swinging strike rate is on a steady climb the last couple of years (9.2%, 11.7%, 12.1%) and prior to 2020, his groundball rate was surging too (35%, 44%, 49% GB%). In his first start Montas was dealing strikes (74% first-pitch strike rate). His fastball was averaging 96 MPH and his swinging strike rate was an above average 13%. Montas carries SP2 (starting pitcher 2) upside that we can now bet at SP4 or 5 prices.

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