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Houston Astros vs Oakland Athletics July 26th 2025
The Athletics will take on the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston, TX. The game is set for Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 7:10 PM. Fans can catch the action on SCHN.
The Athletics have a season record of 44-62 and are 17 games back in the AL West. They will send Jacob Lopez to the mound, who has a 4.60 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. The Astros, with a 60-44 record, will counter with Hunter Brown, boasting a 2.57 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. The weather is expected to be warm with light rain, but the retractable roof at Daikin Park should keep conditions in check.
Athletics vs Astros Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Athletics vs. Houston Astros
- Venue: Daikin Park in Houston, TX
- Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
- Betting Odds: Athletics Moneyline +172, Astros Moneyline -205, Athletics Runline +1.5 (-126), Astros Runline -1.5 (+105), Total Over 7.5 (-114), Total Under 7.5 (-106)
The Athletics Can Win If…
The Athletics are coming off a strong win against the Houston Astros, taking the game 15-3. Nick Kurtz had an outstanding performance, going 6-for-6 with four home runs and eight RBIs. Jeffrey Springs pitched well, allowing just two earned runs over six innings.
The Athletics have shown they can hit for power, ranking 6th in slugging percentage. They also have 141 home runs this season, placing them 7th in the league. Their ability to hit extra-base hits, like doubles and home runs, gives them an edge.
Nick Kurtz is a key player to watch with a .288 batting average and 19 home runs. Brent Rooker adds to the lineup with 21 home runs, while Tyler Soderstrom contributes with 18. With these hitters in form, the Athletics have a good chance to win the next game.
The Astros Can Win If…
The Houston Astros are looking to bounce back after a tough 15-3 loss to the Athletics. In that game, Zack Short hit a home run and drove in two runs. Despite the loss, Chas McCormick had a solid performance with two hits in three at-bats.
Hunter Brown will be on the mound for the Astros, bringing a strong 2.57 ERA and a 9-4 win-loss record. His WHIP of 0.99 shows his ability to keep runners off base. The Astros’ pitching staff ranks 7th in ERA and 3rd in batting average against, which gives them a chance to keep the Athletics’ hitters in check.
Offensively, the Astros have a team batting average of .258, ranking 2nd in the league. Key players like Jose Altuve, with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs, provide power in the lineup. If the Astros can capitalize on their hitting and pitching strengths, they have a good chance to secure a win.
The Lean
The Astros are favored to win with a moneyline of -205. They have a strong pitching staff with a 3.71 ERA, ranked 7th, and a batting average against of .230, ranked 3rd. The Athletics have a higher ERA of 5.20, ranked 29th. My model projects the Astros to win 5-3, making them the recommended pick.
The total for the game is set at 7.5. The Athletics’ pitching struggles, with a high ERA and ranking 25th in home runs given up, suggest runs will be scored. The Astros’ hitting ranks 2nd in batting average. My model projects a total of 8 runs, so the recommendation is to take the over at 7.5 (-114).
Stay Ahead of the Diamond
MLB Data & Insights
After Historic 4-Homer Game, Nick Kurtz Takes Aim at Astros Again
The baseball world is still buzzing after one of the greatest single-game performances in modern history. Oakland Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz will look for an encore on Saturday after his historic night, as the visiting Oakland Athletics continue their four-game series against the struggling and injury-plagued Houston Astros.
A Night for the Record Books
On Friday night, Nick Kurtz did something truly unbelievable. The 22-year-old rookie became the 20th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single game. He finished the night a perfect 6-for-6 with 8 RBIs and a record-tying 19 total bases as the A’s routed the Astros 15-3.
“It’s an ‘I can’t believe it’s real’ type of thing,'” an incredulous Kurtz said after the game. The breakout star now leads all MLB rookies in home runs, RBIs, and extra-base hits.
Houston, We Have a Problem
While the A’s are celebrating, the Astros are in crisis. They have been decimated by injuries, with a whopping 18 players on the IL, including eight starting pitchers. Manager Joe Espada is clearly frustrated with the constant focus on the injuries rather than the players who are competing.
“I wish the focus would shift to the guys actually on the field,” Espada said. “We should talk about their grit, their toughness, and I’m really proud of those guys right now.”
The Pitching Matchup
The Astros will turn to their ace, Hunter Brown, to be the stopper, but he is in the middle of his first slump of the season. The A’s will counter with the improving lefty, Jacob Lopez.
| Pitcher | W-L (2025) | ERA (2025) | Career vs. Opponent |
| Hunter Brown (HOU) | 9-4 | 2.57 | 4-1, 2.63 ERA |
| Jacob Lopez (OAK) | 3-6 | 4.60 | 0.00 ERA (1 start) |
Can the A’s Keep It Up?
The last-place A’s have now won two straight against the first-place Astros. How a young team handles a massive, historic performance like Kurtz’s is a key topic in our expert betting guide. This pitching matchup will be a key focus on the scores and odds board. For two MLB teams at opposite ends of the standings, this series has been full of surprises. To see who our experts are backing, check out our daily MLB picks.
