ASTROS VS. A'S
5 important elements in Astros push to even series against Athletics
Sep 11, 2024, 12:45 pm
Hunter Brown takes the hill for Houston. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.
The Houston Astros will look to bounce back in the second game of a three-game series after dropping the opener to the Oakland Athletics. The Astros, sitting atop the AL West with a 77-67 record, have been strong at home this season with a 41-31 record. Oakland, 63-82 overall, enters Wednesday's matchup fresh off a series-opening win, aiming to keep the momentum going.
Pitching probables
The Astros will send Hunter Brown (11-7, 3.41 ERA) to the mound. Brown has been one of Houston’s more consistent pitchers, striking out 161 batters this season while maintaining a 1.27 WHIP. Oakland counters with Joey Estes (6-7, 4.46 ERA), who has a 1.13 WHIP and 86 strikeouts, aiming to contain Houston’s potent offense.
Astros overview
Houston's offense is anchored by Yordan Alvarez, who leads the team with 65 extra-base hits, including 32 home runs. Alex Bregman has also been productive lately, going 9-for-38 with two home runs over the last 10 games. The Astros will need their bats to come alive as they continue their pursuit of solidifying playoff positioning. Houston leads MLB with the eighth-best on-base percentage at .321 and will look to exploit Oakland’s pitching.
Athletics overview
Oakland, though struggling this season, has some bright spots, including Brent Rooker, who leads the team with a .298 batting average and 35 home runs. Lawrence Butler has also been in good form recently, hitting 16-for-42 over his last 10 games. The A's offense will need to capitalize on any opportunities against Hunter Brown, as they look to spoil Houston’s playoff aspirations.
Recent form
The Astros come into the game with a 5-5 record in their last 10 games, batting .259 as a team while posting a 3.40 ERA. Oakland has gone 4-6 over the same stretch, batting .242 with a 4.67 ERA. Though outscored by 23 runs in their last 10 games, the A’s will look to build off their series-opening win.
Betting line
The Astros are heavy favorites at -239, while the Athletics are +194 underdogs. The over/under for total runs in the game is set at 8.
Houston will need to clean up their play if they want to even the series, while Oakland hopes to continue their role as a spoiler.
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Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BetMGM Odds: Texans by 3.
Against the spread: Dolphins 5-8; Texans 5-6-2.
Series record: Texans lead 8-3.
Last meeting: Dolphins beat Texans 30-15, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Miami.
Last week: Dolphins beat Jets 32-26 in OT; Texans were off, beat Jaguars 23-20 on Dec. 1.
Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (14), scoring (23).
Dolphins defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (11), scoring (T14).
Texans offense: overall (18), rush (16), pass (17), scoring (11).
Texans defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (T12).
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-2; Texans plus-10.
Dolphins player to watch
QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at throwing with anticipation and accuracy since he returned from a concussion in Week 8. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 73.8% completion rate and threw for 300 yards for the third straight game last week vs. the Jets. Tagovailoa is the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season.
Texans player to watch
QB C.J. Stroud has thrown for at least 225 yards in each of his six home games this season and is 11-4 in 15 starts in Houston, including the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.
Key matchup
Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Miami’s run defense. Mixon ran for 101 yards in Houston’s previous game for his seventh 100-yard game this season. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game. This week he’ll face a run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL by holding teams to 105.6 yards a game.
Key injuries
Miami LT Terron Armstead is dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just five snaps last week. He did not practice Wednesday… LBs Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee) could make their season debut, depending on how this week of practice goes, coach Mike McDaniel said. … WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (hip), and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) were among those limited in practice Wednesday. … Houston S Jalen Pitre is expected to miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury. … DE Denico Autry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury.
Series notes
Houston won the first seven meetings in this series. … Miami didn’t get its first win against the Texans until a 44-26 victory in 2015. … The Dolphins have won the past two meetings. … These teams first met in the season opener in 2003 when Houston got a 21-20 win on a late field goal.
Stats and stuff
Three of Miami’s final four games of the season are on the road. … K Jason Sanders needs 13 points Sunday to reach 800. He also needs one field goal to reach 177, which would give him the second-most field goals made in franchise history. … TE Jonnu Smith needs 100 yards receiving to reach 792 and set a franchise record for most yards receiving by a tight end in a single season. Smith had three catches for 44 yards, including the game-winning TD vs. the Jets last week after having no receptions during regulation. … Tagovailoa needs a completion rate of 70% or better on Sunday to reach eight consecutive games completing at least 70% of his passes. That would tie him with Joe Montana (1989) and Drew Brees (2017-18) for the longest streak in NFL history. … The Dolphins gave up a season-high 402 yards to the Jets last week. Aaron Rodgers burned Miami’s pass defense for 319 yards, and Miami’s secondary allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. … Houston can clinch the AFC South title for the second straight year with a win and a loss by Indianapolis Sunday. … The Texans rank second in the NFL with 84 tackles for loss. … Their 42 sacks also rank second. … WR Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards for his fourth 100-yard game this season in Houston’s previous game. He has had at least 75 yards receiving and a TD reception in each of his four home games this season. … TE Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 61 yards and a score in Week 13. He has had at least five catches in two of his past three games. … LB Azeez Al-Shaai will serve the first game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of QB Trevor Lawrence Sunday. … DE Danielle Hunter is one of two players in the NFL this season with at least 15 tackles for loss (15) and 10 sacks (10 1/2). It’s his sixth career season with at least 10 sacks. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks combined in his past three games. … DE Will Anderson has had a sack in his past two home games. … LB Henry To’oTo’o has had at least five tackles in four straight games. … CB Derek Stingley had his third interception of the season in his previous game. … CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss in Week 13. … S Jimmie Ward has had an interception in his past two home games. He also had an interception in his previous game against Miami in 2022 while with San Francisco.
Fantasy tip
Collins has 456 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions in four home games this season.