SERIES PREVIEW
Houston Astros hunt for critical wins in clash with Athletics
Jul 22, 2024, 4:52 pm
The Astros open a series with the A's Monday night. Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images.
Houston Astros (52-47, first in the AL West) vs. Oakland Athletics (39-62, fifth in the AL West)
Oakland, California; Monday, 9:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Spencer Arrighetti (4-7, 5.63 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 93 strikeouts); Athletics: Hogan Harris (1-3, 3.40 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 35 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -148, Athletics +124; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros play the Oakland Athletics after Yordan Alvarez hit for the cycle against the Mariners on Sunday.
Oakland has a 24-26 record at home and a 39-62 record overall. The Athletics have gone 21-42 in games when they have allowed at least one home run.
Houston is 24-26 in road games and 52-47 overall. The Astros are 7-17 in games decided by one run.
The teams meet Monday for the eighth time this season. The Astros lead the season series 6-1.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brent Rooker has 19 doubles, two triples, 22 home runs and 67 RBI for the Athletics. Lawrence Butler is 16-for-37 with three doubles, a triple, five home runs and 18 RBI over the past 10 games.
Alvarez leads Houston with 20 home runs while slugging .545. Jake Meyers is 7-for-37 with three home runs and six RBI over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Athletics: 5-5, .281 batting average, 5.48 ERA, outscored opponents by 16 runs
Astros: 6-4, .228 batting average, 2.63 ERA, outscored opponents by 14 runs
INJURIES: Athletics: Jacob Wilson: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Luis Medina: 15-Day IL (elbow), Tyler Soderstrom: 10-Day IL (undisclosed), Dany Jimenez: 15-Day IL (oblique), Alex Wood: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Paul Blackburn: 60-Day IL (foot), Ross Stripling: 15-Day IL (elbow), Esteury Ruiz: 10-Day IL (wrist), Darell Hernaiz: 60-Day IL (ankle), Ken Waldichuk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Trevor Gott: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Astros: Victor Caratini: 10-Day IL (hip), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (neck), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (forearm), Kyle Tucker: 10-Day IL (shin), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), 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), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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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.