Houston Astros vs Athletics Picks and Prediction for Saturday, September 26, 2026

On Saturday, the Houston Astros (79-80) face off against the Athletics (63-96) at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California. Get involved in the action with our free MLB picks.

Houston vs. Athletics Game Information

• September 26, 2026
• 9:40 PM EST
• Sutter Health Park
• MLB.TV/NBC Sports California/Space City Home Network/Fubo

Athletics Form & Recent Results

The Athletics head into this matchup trying to bounce back, as they are currently riding a one-game losing streak and have lost three of their last five games coming into Friday. One of those recent defeats came at home against the Houston Astros on Thursday, while the other two losses came on the road against the Cleveland Guardians. In Thursday’s 7-5 loss to Houston, the Athletics did show some fight offensively, even though they ultimately came up short on the scoreboard. Third baseman Zack Gelof was one of the biggest bright spots in the lineup, putting together an impressive performance at the plate. He finished the game going 2-for-3 with a walk, two home runs, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. As a team, the Athletics were able to collect eleven hits in the game, which shows that the offense was able to create opportunities. However, their pitching staff struggled to keep the Astros fully under control, allowing ten hits and issuing two walks in the loss.

Throughout the entire season, the Athletics have had several players contribute offensively in different ways. Catcher Shea Langeliers has been the team’s top power hitter, leading the club with twenty-three home runs so far this season. Zack Gelof is right behind him and has provided plenty of power as well, ranking second on the team with twenty-two home runs. First baseman Nick Kurtz has been the Athletics’ most productive run producer, leading the team with sixty-nine runs batted in on the year. Meanwhile, second baseman Jeff McNeil has been one of their more consistent hitters when it comes to getting on base through contact, leading the team with a .267 batting average this season. Even with those individual contributions, pitching has been a concern lately for the A’s. In their last five games, the Athletics have allowed an average of six runs per game, which has made it difficult for them to consistently stay in games and come away with wins.

Houston Form & Recent Results

The Astros march into this upcoming game looking to build some serious momentum on the heels of a one-game winning streak, though they are still trying to reverse their recent losing trend after dropping three of their last five matchups leading into Friday. That frustrating stretch included a tough road loss against the division-rival Mariners up in Seattle, as well as a pair of highly competitive drops against the Braves in front of their home crowd. However, they managed to completely change the narrative on Thursday night during a thrilling 7-5 road victory over the Athletics, a game that quickly transformed into an absolute showcase for center fielder Lucas Spence. Spence put on a historic, jaw-dropping display of pure power at the plate, going a phenomenal 3-for-4 with a mind-boggling three home runs, crossing the plate for three runs scored, and single-handedly driving in five RBIs to carry the offense. On the mound, starting pitcher Miguel Ullola set a dominant tone early by firing three brilliant innings of work, completely shutting down the A's lineup by surrendering a mere single hit and zero runs, all while issuing absolutely zero walks and carving up batters to sit down three via the strikeout.

That collective, high-powered effort on Thursday really highlighted just how dangerous this Houston squad can be when everything clicks, as the explosive offense launched a grand total of five home runs and racked up a staggering 25 total bases to completely overwhelm the opposition's pitching staff. Not to be outdone, the Astros' arms put on an absolute clinic in power pitching throughout the evening, racking up an incredible 14 strikeouts and relentlessly pounding the strike zone to throw 102 strikes by the time the final out was recorded. While the team has endured some recent turbulence, their pitching and defense have actually remained remarkably steady, giving up an average of just 4.2 runs over their last five games. If the bats can continue to replicate the terrifying power they showcased on Thursday night, and the pitching staff maintains this elite level of run prevention, Houston is going to be an incredibly tough out for anyone standing across from them in the batter's box.

Key Stats

• Houston’s Yordan Alvarez this season: 41 HRs, 102 RBI, .315 AVG
• Athletics’ Jeff McNeil this season: 9 HRs, 59 RBI, .267 AVG

Houston vs. Athletics Picks and Prediction

Both the Astros and Athletics have struggled through rough seasons, but Houston is still very much in the mix. Even sitting one game below .500, the Astros still have a realistic shot at reaching the playoffs and making a push for the AL West title. The A's will send right-hander Jack Perkins to the mound. He’s had a tough year, carrying a 3-12 record with a 5.90 ERA. Final Score Prediction, Houston Astros win 5-4.