Preview for Saturday, September 26, 2026. Schedule and player information can change.
Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics
Houston Astros visit the Oakland Athletics with Hayden Wesneski taking the mound for Houston against Jack Perkins for Oakland. Wesneski has been the sharper of the two by run-prevention numbers, posting a 3.50 ERA and a 3.78 FIP across approximately 54.0 innings pitched, while Perkins carries a 5.90 ERA and a 4.65 FIP over a larger workload of approximately 116.0 innings pitched. That gap in both ERA and FIP suggests Wesneski has been the more effective run-preventer this season, even though Perkins has logged considerably more innings.
Offensively, the two teams are close to even, with Houston's WP-estimated wOBA at 0.315 just a touch above Oakland's 0.314, meaning neither offense holds a clear separation from the other. Where the teams diverge is in team-level run prevention: Houston's ERA of 4.51 and FIP of 4.62 are both better marks than Oakland's ERA of 5.44 and FIP of 4.98, giving the Astros the more favorable pitching profile as a team entering this matchup.
Oakland's roster situation includes several notable statuses, with Jamie Arnold listed as 'Out,' and both Henry Baez and Leo De Vries listed on the 7-Day IL. Houston, meanwhile, has Brandon Bielak, Jax Biggers, and Drew Brutcher all listed on the 60-Day IL. Taken together, the pitching and team run-prevention figures lean toward Houston, with Wesneski's superior ERA and FIP against Perkins and the Astros' better team ERA and FIP compared to Oakland's standing out as the clearest edges in the available numbers.
Statistical scope: MLB Stats API; 2026 regular season season-to-date; exact statistical through-date not supplied.
WP selection: Astros moneyline. Confidence: Confident.
The selection is supplied separately by WP. The comparisons above do not establish why the model made this selection.
WP home-run candidate for Astros: Nelson Velázquez. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
WP home-run candidate for Athletics: Zack Gelof. The selection uses roster and season-stat inputs; it does not establish a confirmed batting lineup or favourable betting odds.
Predictions are uncertain; no outcome is guaranteed. Check the picks page for the latest available selections.