Wednesday, October7, 2020, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, 3:35 p.m. ET
A’s at Astros Betting Preview: A’s (+100), Astros (-120)
Oakland A’s
If Oakland pitching could keep the Astros in the park, the American League Division Series would have some drama, but the staff has allowed six home runs and the A’s have lost twice. Left-hander Jesus Luzardo (3-2, 4.12 ERA regular season) was named starter for Game 3 on Wednesday over right-hander Frankie Montas. Luzardo has just 18 career regular-season appearances, but he is 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA in three outings against the Astros.
The A’s have five home runs in two games, but diversifying their game has been the issue. Oakland was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in Game 1 and did not have an at-bat with a runner in scoring position in Game 2.
The A’s do have experience with their backs to the wall, going 2-0 in elimination games in their wild-card round series against the Chicago White Sox.
Houston Astros
It was good news, bad news for the Astros on Tuesday as they moved to 2-0 in their series against the A’s but lost right-hander Zack Greinke for an undetermined amount of time. Greinke was supposed to start Game 3, but arm soreness has him out indefinitely.
Right-hander Jose Urquidy will get the start Wednesday instead. He has just 14 career games and 12 starts to his credit over the past two seasons, but he has a 2.45 ERA against Oakland in two starts.
After Carlos Correa stepped up with two home runs in Game 1, George Springer belted two long balls in Game 2. In six career playoff games at Dodger Stadium, Springer 13-for-26 with five home runs and nine RBIs. His club record for home runs in the postseason was extended to 17.
A’s at Astros Betting Pick for Game 3
The Astros are hitting the ball hard and far, and it doesn’t look as if their homer stroke will cool off anytime soon, not with an entire series being played in the sunshine at Los Angeles. The unsung Houston hero, though, has been a bullpen that has thrown seven scoreless innings, including five hitless frames in Game 1.
Oakland has taken the lead in each of the first two games of the series before getting overwhelmed by Houston’s power game.
A’s at Astros Betting Pick:
Astros 7, A’s 5
A’s at Astros Best Bet for Game 3
The ball continues to fly in the warm temperatures of Los Angeles and more fireworks could be ahead with a pair of young starters in Game 3. The A’s have seen everything the Astros’ bullpen has to offer and will have to use that knowledge to break through against one or two of Houston’s relievers.
A’s at Astros Best Bet: OVER 9 total runs (+100)
–Field Level Media
