Houston Astros travel to Oakland for crucial 3-game series

Houston Astros (22-28, third in AL West) vs. Oakland Athletics (21-31, fourth in AL West)

Oakland, California; Friday, 9:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABIES: Astros: Justin Verlander (2-2, 3.97 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 26 strikeouts); Athletics: Ross Stripling (1-8, 5.19 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 32 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -170, Athletics +142; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Oakland Athletics begin a three-game home series against the Houston Astros on Friday.

Oakland is 21-31 overall and 12-14 in home games. The Athletics hit 65 total home runs to rank third in the AL.

Houston is 22-28 overall and 8-13 in road games. The Astros are 13-4 in games where they haven’t allowed a home run.

The teams face off Friday for the fifth time this season. The Astros lead the series 4-0.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brent Rooker has 11 homers, 17 walks and 32 RBIs while hitting .286 for the Athletics. Max Schuemann is 12-for-35 with a double and two RBIs over the last 10 games.

Kyle Tucker leads Houston with 17 home runs while hitting .638. Alex Bregman is 9 for 38 with three homers and six RBIs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Athletics: 2-8, .225 batting average, 5.25 ERA, led by 27 runs

Astros: 7-3, .272 batting average, 3.13 ERA, opponents outscored by 20 runs

INJURIES: Athletics: Esteury Ruiz: 10-day IL (wrist), Darell Hernaiz: 60-day IL (ankle), Alex Wood: 15-day IL (rotator cuff), Paul Blackburn: 15-day IL (foot), Joseph Boyle: IL of 15 days (back), Freddy Tarnok: IL of 60 days (hip), Luis Medina: IL of 60 days (knee), Sean Newcomb: IL of 60 days (knee), Aledmys Diaz: IL of 60 days (calf) , Miguel Andujar: IL 10 days (knee), Ken Waldichuk: IL 60 days (elbow), Trevor Gott: IL 60 days (elbow)

Astros: Oliver Ortega: 60-day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr. : 60-day IL (elbow), Jose Urquidy: 15-day IL (forearm), Kendall Graveman: 60-day IL (elbow)