Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics 7/25/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Houston Astros open a three-game series on the road Monday against American League West rival the Oakland Athletics. Houston is 63-32 following its 3-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Justin Verlander became the first pitcher in baseball to win 13 games this season while striking out nine. The Astros have won four straight and hold a 12-game lead atop the AL West over the second place Mariners.

Left fielder Yordan Alvarez is batting .307 with 28 home runs, 65 RBIs, 85 hits and an on-base percentage of .407 to lead Houston in each category. Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker are second in home runs with 18 each and Tucker is second in RBIs with 63. Houston has not announced its starting pitcher for Monday's opening game of their three-game series against Oakland. Find out how we think all of the baseball teams will do with our free MLB predictions.

Oakland improved to 35-62 following its 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. Oakland scored a tie-breaking run on a fielding error by Texas in the sixth inning and went on to the victory. Oakland has won three straight and four out of the last five, but the Athletics are last in the American League West, 29 games behind the first-place Houston Astros.

Catcher Sean Murphy is batting .241 to lead Oakland and has team highs in hits with 76 and on-base percentage at .314. First baseman Seth Brown is the leader in home runs with 12 and RBIs with 41. Oakland has not announced its starting pitcher for Monday's series opener with Houston at home.