The Houston Astros face the Athletics on Thursday at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. The Astros found out that they would not be AL West champions last night, after the Seattle Mariners clinched the division. Now they have to chase down the final Wild Card spot in the American League and will have to get by a determined Athletics team to help them do so. Before the first pitch from Sacramento, continue reading to get my Astros vs Athletics prediction.
Our Astros vs Athletics Pick
- Pick: Houston Astros to win
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Houston Astros vs Athletics
- Date & Time: Thursday, September 25, 2025, 3:35 PM ET
- Starting Pitchers: Framber Valdez (HOU) vs J.T. Ginn (ATH)
- Stadium: Sutter Health Park, Sacramento, CA
- Broadcast: Space City Home Network, NBCSCA
Key Storylines
Pitching Matchup
Framber Valdez (12-11, 3.75 ERA) takes the mound for the Astros. Despite a solid season, Valdez has faced challenges in recent outings. He is 0-4 in the month of September and has an ERA of 8.27 in his starts this month. J.T. Ginn (4-6, 4.57 ERA) starts for the Athletics today. He has pitched three times against the Astros so far this season and the A’s have won in all three of those games.
Recent Team Streaks
- Houston Astros: The Astros enter the game on a five-game losing streak, with offensive struggles contributing to their recent downturn. They have scored eight total runs in their last five games and need to step things up at the plate to avoid another loss here.
- Athletics: The A’s have won two games in a row and they will look to get one last win over the Astros in this contest.
Playoff Picture
The Astros enter today one game out of the final Wild Card spot in the American League. They trail the struggling Detroit Tigers for that final Wild Card spot. Both teams have done a dismal job down the stretch this season and the Astros will look for a win that will give them a chance to end today tied with Detroit for the final AL Wild Card spot.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Framber Valdez | Over 5.5 strikeouts |
| J.T. Ginn | Under 4.5 strikeouts |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Athletics lead the season series 8-4 over the Astros.
- This is the final regular-season matchup scheduled between these AL West opponents.
- The A’s have won seven consecutive matchups against the Astros going into this contest.
Astros vs Athletics Model Projection
- Score Projection: Astros 5 – Athletics 3
- Win Probability: Astros 60%, Athletics 40%
Final Thoughts
The Astros should have the upper hand in this matchup despite their recent struggles. Framber Valdez is the best starting pitcher going in this game and he should help the Astros get the lead. Look for Houston to get a key victory here and to keep pressure on the Tigers in the AL Wild Card chase before the Astros begin their final series of the year tomorrow.
