Struggling Astros, surging Athletics begin series with AL West on the line
The Oakland Athletics, once 11.5 games back of the Houston Astros, open a series Friday night against the defending World Series champs with a chance to take over the AL West lead.
Two months ago, the idea that the defending World Series champions would be in a pennant race against the team with the second-lowest payroll in the league seemed improbable at best.
That is the situation facing the Houston Astros, however. On June 16, they led the Oakland Athletics by 11.5 games in the AL West. Now, Oakland has crawled their way to within two games as the teams prepare to play a pivotal three-game series in Oakland starting on Friday.
The Astros go into Oakland after ending a five-game losing streak with a 12-1 over Colorado on Wednesday. That win also snapped a nine-game home losing skid, the franchise’s longest since 1966.
If you are looking for a reason why the team is struggling, look no further than their disabled list.
Jose Altuve, the reigning American League MVP, has been out since July 25. Shortstop Carlos Correa has just two hits in 18 at-bats since returning from a six-week DL stint on Aug. 10. George Springer has been out the past two weeks with a sprained thumb, but will be activated in time for tonight’s game.
The play of pitcher Justin Verlander his mirrored the team’s success this season. Back on June 16, Verlander had a record of 9-2 with a 1.61 ERA. In his last 10 starts, however, he has just two wins and a 4.26 ERA while giving up 14 home runs. He gave up just nine homers in his first 16 starts this year.
Despite the recent surge by the Athletics, Astros manager A.J. Hinch says they aren’t thinking too much about it yet.
“I haven’t really thought about Oakland, to be honest,” Hinch said after Wednesday’s game. “Everybody else around here is, but our team isn’t.”
Oakland, meanwhile, has been the best team in baseball the past two months. Since June 16, the A’s have won 38 of 51 games for a .745 winning percentage, tied with Boston for the league lead. Not only are they now within two games of Houston, they have caught and surpassed Seattle for the second AL Wild Card spot. It took 12 innings Wednesday night for Seattle to end Oakland’s four-game winning streak with a 2-0 victory.
Every part of the Athletics roster is surging at just the right time. Their starting pitchers have a 2.16 ERA in their past 10 games. Edwin Jackson, signed on June 6 to his MLB-record 13th different team, hasn’t given up an earned run in his past three starts. The bullpen, already one of the league’s best, has been helped by the acquisitions of Fernando Rodney and Shawn Kelley; neither has given up a run yet in a Oakland uniform. Khris Davis, meanwhile, is on pace to become only the second player this decade with three straight 40-home run seasons.
All this means is that the Athletics, once facing a seemingly insurmountable deficit, can overtake the Astros in their series this weekend. Oakland manager Bob Melvin says that these next three games are important for the team, but then again every game is important this time of the year.
“Every game that we go out there and play, they’re ready to play,” Melvin said on Wednesday. “But I think based on where we came from, and where we are now, every game is a big game because we have to keep winning.”
The Astros once seemed certain they would be defending their World Series title in October. The Athletics, meanwhile, were headed towards a lost year. Now the next three games may determine the fate of both teams this season.
dark. Next. Can the A's really catch the Astros?
Jackson will take the mound against Charlie Morton at 10:05 p.m. ET tonight. On the weekend the Athletics will go with Trevor Cahill and Sean Manaea, while the Astros will counter with Cy Young winners Dallas Keuchel and Verlander.