Series Preview 33 (of 52): Astros visit Oakland (x3)

The Astros play three games in Oakland starting tonight.

Houston and Oakland have already met seven times this year, with Houston winning six. With a 13-game series this season, the Astros need one more win to take the… green boot? Houston has a 113-94 regular-season advantage against the A’s all-time, a .546 winning percentage that ranks third against AL West opponents. The Astros have also won three of four postseason games, including the 2020 ALDS.

The last time Houston played the Athletics was May 26, when Ronel Blanco (5-0, 1.99 ERA) earned the win by allowing one run on four hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out six, going 71 of 104 pitches in the dark. Houston scored five runs in the fourth inning, on a sacrifice bunt by Yainer Díaz, a two-run single by Jose Altuve and a two-run home run by Kyle Tucker (18). Altuve, along with Alex Bregman and Jeremy Peña, all finished with multiple hits.

I was mostly focused on getting here and doing my job. I was trying to throw my balls and help the team win.

Houston is coming off a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park, winning the first two before dropping the final game Sunday, 6-4. In Houston’s last win Saturday, Tayler Scott (7-3, 1.35) earned the win in relief after Framber Valdez was one out short of a quality start. For the second straight game, Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader each pitched a no-hit inning in the 4-2 victory. Jeremy Peña led off the scoring with an RBI single in the fourth inning, Jake Meyers (11) hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning, and Yainer Diaz (8) added a solo hit in the eighth.

That’s not to take away from our pitchers — Valdez and the back end of our bullpen did a great job and were brilliant — but I think the difference in tonight’s game was our defense. — Joe Espada

Oakland just hosted the Los Angeles Angels for three games, winning the first two before dropping the final game Sunday, 8-5. Miguel Andujar (4) led the A’s with three hits, including a home run, while Lawrence Butler also had multiple hits in the loss. Lucas Erceg (2-3, 4.01) allowed four runs and recorded no outs in the loss.

The job Schuemann is doing. He’s getting on base. He’s hitting the ball for extra-base hits. It’s been really fun to watch the last few weeks. — Mark Kotsay, on rookie Max Schuemann.

Game schedules and starting pitchers

Monday, 8:40 p.m. CT: Spencer Arrighetti (4-7, 5.63) vs. Hogan Harris (1-3, 3.40)
Tuesday, 8:40 p.m. CT: Jake Bloss (0-0, 4.70) vs. Osvaldo Bido (1-1, 3.44)
Wednesday, 2:37 p.m. CT: Hunter Brown (8-6, 4.14) vs. TBD