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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 14: Zack Greinke #21 of the Houston Astros walks to the dugout after giving up a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning at Globe Life Field on September 14, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. Ron Jenkins/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Ron Jenkins / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

A chance to clinch the AL West title awaits the Houston Astros on this weekend’s sports betting calendar as they finish up their final road trip of the year at the Oakland Athletics.

Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics

Friday, September 24, 2021 – 9:40 PM EDT at Oakland Coliseum

Houston and Oakland are meeting for the first time since before the All-Star Game and will spend the final two weekends of the regular season getting reacquainted. The Astros are closing in on their fourth division crown in five years as they arrive in Oakland for the last leg of their final 2021 road trip. The Athletics were supposed to challenge Houston for the AL West flag, but have stumbled in September and begin the series on a 4-game skid.

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Friday’s lid-lifter features a rematch on the mound from four months ago, Zack Greinke (11-6, 4.11) of Houston taking on Oakland’s Frankie Montas (12-9, 3.57). Too bad top sportsbooks were unable to post overnight lines due to Houston manager Dusty Baker’s late announcement on his pitcher. Expect tight numbers for the money line and 8-8½ for the total.

Astros Magic Number for AL West is Three

Greinke and Montas squared off in Oakland on May 19th, and the Astros pasted an 8-1 result on the Athletics. Houston closed as small chalk on the MLB betting odds, and Greinke enjoyed one of his best starts of the season with an 8-IP, 1-ER effort while striking out eight. Montas was victimized by a Jose Altuve leadoff homer in the first but settled down to work five innings with two runs surrendered before Oakland relievers got lit up.

Both of Greinke’s starts against the A’s this year took place in Oakland, the first coming on Opening Day, and the Astros won each game by identical 8-1 MLB scores. He spent a little more than two weeks on the mend due to virus protocols, and Greinke’s two starts since coming off the IL have been shaky, to say the least. In fact, going back to his final start before testing positive for the virus, Greinke has seen his season ERA rise by nearly three-quarters of a run in the span of just 13 innings.

Frankie Montas #47 of the Oakland Athletics. Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP

Montas split his two starts against the Astros this year, pitching well both times. He faced them in Houston on the second weekend of the season, tossing six scoreless innings before Kyle Tucker led off the seventh with a solo blast. Oakland has won seven of his last 10 assignments, and Montas was dealing last Sunday in Anaheim where he spun seven scoreless frames, allowing just one hit. Oakland hitters couldn’t support Montas while he was on the mound, but the A’s won in the end with a 3-2 in 10 as -130 favorites with (visit ourSportsbook Review)

A's Coming Off Sweep at Hands of Mariners

Houston started this West Coast swing with its bats working as the Astros took three of four in Anaheim from the Angels. Those three wins came in the first three games of the set when the Astros scored 29 runs and clubbed nine homers. The sticks were cooled down a bit in a 3-2 loss on Thursday, but Houston has still gone a solid 13-8 on the month.

https://twitter.com/Athletics/status/1441127320228491273

Oakland is a disappointing 9-12 for September as the Athletics have fallen 9-games behind the Astros in the AL West. It was pitching during the first half of the month that caused trouble, and it’s the offense that is falling short now. The A’s were just swept down to third in the division by the Mariners and scored all of 10 runs in the four-game set.

‘Over’ Cashes in All SevenMeetings at the Coliseum This Season

One win this weekend in Oakland or in Houston next weekend when the clubs close out the regular season will give the Astros their sixth season series win over the A’s in the last seven years. Houston has dominated Oakland since the two teams began the season at Minute Maid Park, and the Astros begin this set with a 9-4 record in the rivalry. The ‘over’ has been equally profitable with the 13 matchups running 9-4 O/U, and a perfect 7-0 at the Coliseum.

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The weatherman says to expect clear skies and the thermometer in the upper-60s when Montas delivers the game’s first pitch, along with a 5-9 mph northwest breeze (left to right). It’s been a while since I was impressed with Greinke’s work on the mound, and will go with a free MLB pick on the home team despite Oakland’s recent struggles.

MLB Pick: (visit our Sportsbook Review)

*The pick reflects the line at the moment the writer made the play, the odds at the beginning of this article show the live line movement. Since the lines might vary, don’t forget to refer back to our live odds.