Houston Astros vs. Athletics Picks and Prediction for Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Use Code WWWC Houston Astros (84-72) vs. Athletics (73-83)
The 2025 MLB Playoffs are just around the corner, and the ultimate week of the regular season goes on Tuesday, September 23, with the Houston Astros facing off against the Athletics in the AL West showdown at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, CA, so here’s our Astros vs. Athletics prediction.
It’s the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento. The Athletics are 6-4 against the Astros in 2025, and the last time they met, the A’s swept a four-game series in Houston in July.
Now, let’s take a closer look at this Astros vs. A’s prediction, one of our MLB picks for Tuesday’s card. The first pitch at Sutter Health Park is set at 10:05 PM ET, and the Astros are slight -105 favorites with a total of 10.5 runs.
The Astros are desperate for wins
The Houston Astros just got swept by the Seattle Mariners in a three-game series at Daikin Park in Houston (4-0, 6-4, and 7-3). The Astros started last week with a three-game sweep over the Texas Rangers (6-3, 6-5, and 5-2), but they failed to cope with the Mariners’ stellar pitching.
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Houston is now three games behind the AL West-leading Mariners. The Astros are tied with the Cleveland Guardians for the final wild-card spot in the American League. They are just one game behind the Boston Red Sox.
Cristian Javier will take the mound at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old right-hander is 2-3 with a 4.45 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in seven starts (32.1 innings pitched) this season. Last Wednesday, Javier pitched six innings of a two-run, five-hit ball in a 5-2 victory to the Rangers.
Javier made his season debut on August 11. He’s 4-4 with a 3.92 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 11 career starts and three relief appearances against the Athletics. The current Athletics are just 1-for-19 against Javier.
The Athletics are playing a spoiler
The Athletics will try to snap a two-game skid when they host the Astros on Tuesday night. The A’s have nothing to play for, but they would certainly like to ruin Houston’s chances to reach the playoffs.
Last week, the Athletics took two out of three from the Boston Red Sox. The A’s have won seven of their previous 10 games overall, scoring 41 runs on a .239/.297/.415 slash line. Their bullpen has compiled a shiny 1.71 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a .203 batting average against during that stretch.
Jeffrey Springs will toe the rubber on Tuesday night, and the 33-year-old left-hander carries a 10-11 record with a 4.17 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 29 starts and two relief appearances (166 IP) in 2025. Last Wednesday, Springs threw four innings in a no-decision against the Red Sox, allowing one unearned run on five hits and three walks.
Springs is 2-0 with a 4.70 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in one career start and two relief appearances against the Astros. He’ll meet Houston for the second time this season. Springs emerged victorious in a 15-3 dismantling of the Astros on July 25, allowing two earned runs on four hits and a walk through six innings of work.
Astros vs. Athletics Pick
Moneyline Pick for Astros vs. Athletics
- Houston Astros (5 units)
The Athletics have won seven of their last 10 games on the back of their bullpen. They haven’t scored a single run over their previous two outings, and I expect the A’s to struggle at the plate in the opening game of this series.
As I noted, the Athletics have just one hit in 19 at-bats against Cristian Javier. They’ve posted a .660 OPS and 79 wRC+ against the righties in the last 10 days and 247 plate appearances. The Astros have had just 45 plate appearances against the lefties in that span while notching a .533 OPS and 57 wRC+.
I’m backing the Astros to outpitch the Athletics in this game. Houston’s bullpen has been solid in the last 10 days, tallying a 3.10 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a .221 batting average against. Jeffrey Springs has been inconsistent all season, and I have more trust in Javier. Springs has yielded at least three earned runs in four of his previous seven outings.
Over/Under Pick for Astros vs. Athletics
- Under 10.5 (5 units)
The total opened at 10.5 runs because Sutter Health Park is not a pitcher-friendly environment. But when I look at the teams’ batting stats, I have to take the under. Moreover, these two bullpens have done a great job over the last couple of weeks.
The starting duo should fare well in this matchup, and I’m backing Cristian Javier to outpitch Jeffrey Springs. Interestingly, 10 of the Astros’ last 13 games overall and 10 of the Athletics’ previous 13 have produced 10 or fewer runs in total.
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