ASTROS VS. A'S
5 important elements in Astros push to even series against Athletics
Sep 11, 2024, 12:45 pm
Hunter Brown takes the hill for Houston. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.
The Houston Astros will look to bounce back in the second game of a three-game series after dropping the opener to the Oakland Athletics. The Astros, sitting atop the AL West with a 77-67 record, have been strong at home this season with a 41-31 record. Oakland, 63-82 overall, enters Wednesday's matchup fresh off a series-opening win, aiming to keep the momentum going.
Pitching probables
The Astros will send Hunter Brown (11-7, 3.41 ERA) to the mound. Brown has been one of Houston’s more consistent pitchers, striking out 161 batters this season while maintaining a 1.27 WHIP. Oakland counters with Joey Estes (6-7, 4.46 ERA), who has a 1.13 WHIP and 86 strikeouts, aiming to contain Houston’s potent offense.
Astros overview
Houston's offense is anchored by Yordan Alvarez, who leads the team with 65 extra-base hits, including 32 home runs. Alex Bregman has also been productive lately, going 9-for-38 with two home runs over the last 10 games. The Astros will need their bats to come alive as they continue their pursuit of solidifying playoff positioning. Houston leads MLB with the eighth-best on-base percentage at .321 and will look to exploit Oakland’s pitching.
Athletics overview
Oakland, though struggling this season, has some bright spots, including Brent Rooker, who leads the team with a .298 batting average and 35 home runs. Lawrence Butler has also been in good form recently, hitting 16-for-42 over his last 10 games. The A's offense will need to capitalize on any opportunities against Hunter Brown, as they look to spoil Houston’s playoff aspirations.
Recent form
The Astros come into the game with a 5-5 record in their last 10 games, batting .259 as a team while posting a 3.40 ERA. Oakland has gone 4-6 over the same stretch, batting .242 with a 4.67 ERA. Though outscored by 23 runs in their last 10 games, the A’s will look to build off their series-opening win.
Betting line
The Astros are heavy favorites at -239, while the Athletics are +194 underdogs. The over/under for total runs in the game is set at 8.
Houston will need to clean up their play if they want to even the series, while Oakland hopes to continue their role as a spoiler.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.