Athletics at Astros
The Houston Astros attempt to continue their dominance over the Oakland Athletics and move 30 games over .500 when they host the finale of their three-game set on Sunday. Houston, which has a comfortable 13-game lead in the American League West, captured the first two contests to improve to 12-2 in the season series after winning the final seven meetings of 2016.
Collin McHugh combined with three relievers on a six-hitter Saturday to record his first win of the year as the Astros (76-47) turned a season-high six double plays en route to a 3-0 triumph. Alex Bregman, who went 2-for-3, has homered in each of the first two games of the series after going 12 contests without one. Oakland registered just one extra-base hit Saturday as it suffered its third consecutive defeat. Marcus Semien has been swinging a hot bat, recording four two-hit performances in his last five games while hitting safely in 24 of his last 29 contests.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NBCSN California (Oakland), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jharel Cotton (5-10, 5.83 ERA) vs. Astros RH Brad Peacock (10-1, 3.30)
Cotton's struggles since returning from a stint on the disabled list due to a blister continued Monday as he was tagged for six runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings of a loss to Kansas City. The 25-year-old Virgin Islander has gone 0-2 in four outings since being sidelined, surrendering at least four runs in each turn. Cotton has made two career starts against the Astros - a no-decision last season and a loss at Houston on April 28, when he yielded six runs - three earned - and a career-high 10 hits in 4 1/3 frames.
Peacock has made 10 starts since suffering his lone loss of the year on June 9, winning six of them. The 29-year-old Floridian escaped with a no-decision in his last outing after yielding four runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings at Arizona on Tuesday. Peacock improved to 3-4 with a 4.25 ERA in 14 career appearances (11 starts) against Oakland by posting back-to-back victories in late June in which he allowed two runs and six hits over 10 2/3 total frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros 2B Jose Altuve recorded his fifth two-hit performance in seven games Saturday to raise his major league-leading batting average to .364.
2. Since being acquired from Seattle on Aug. 6, Oakland OF Boog Powell is 4-for-14 with a double and a walk in the five games in which he made plate appearances.
3. The 23-year-old Bregman also doubled on Saturday to join Jimmy Wynn (1965), Cesar Cedeno (1972-73) and Carlos Correa (2015) as the only players in franchise history to record 30 two-base hits and 15 homers in a season before reaching the age of 24.