The Houston Astros and the A's continue their series with a pitching matchup that heavily favors offense. Peter Lambert has quietly been one of Houston's more reliable starters this season, but he now faces an A's lineup that has shown it can produce at home. On the other side, Mason Barnett has endured a difficult rookie campaign, and asking him to slow down an Astros offense fighting to finish the season strong is a tall task. With one starter in excellent form and the other continuing to struggle, this game has all the ingredients for another high-scoring affair.
Houston will hand the ball to Peter Lambert, who enters with an 8-10 record and a 3.70 ERA. Lambert has consistently kept the Astros in games and should give Houston an opportunity to score early against a vulnerable opposing starter. The A's counter with Mason Barnett, who enters with a 1-4 record and a 7.16 ERA. Barnett has had difficulty limiting hard contact and has frequently put his team in early deficits, making this a favorable matchup for an Astros lineup capable of taking advantage of mistakes. While Lambert gives Houston the edge on the mound, the A's have enough offensive talent to contribute as well, especially at home. With Barnett's struggles likely leading to plenty of scoring opportunities and both teams capable of adding on against the bullpens, this matchup projects to climb into double digits.
Astros vs Athletics Prediction: Over 10.5 (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable to 11
