Astros at Athletics
Their roster fortified by a blockbuster move at the waiver deadline, the Houston Astros go for their eighth consecutive victory when they open a four-game series at the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. Houston is attempting to hold off red-hot Cleveland for the American League's best record as they continue a 10-game road trip.
Former Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander was the big-ticket item brought in by the Astros on Aug. 31, but Cameron Maybin - a waiver-wire pickup - has supplied an unexpected jolt with late tiebreaking homers in each of the last two games. "We knew everybody would like him," said Houston manager A.J. Hinch of Maybin. "He's obviously performing at a high level, earning more at-bats." While the Astros were cutting their magic number to win the AL West to nine games, last-place Oakland halted an eight-game skid with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. Khris Davis went deep in back-to-back games and is tied with Aaron Judge for the AL lead with 39 homers.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), NBCSN California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Collin McHugh (2-2, 3.25 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jharel Cotton (7-10, 5.53)
McHugh was denied a chance at winning his third straight start last time out when he was pulled after 4 2/3 innings despite yielding one run on four hits against Texas. Still, he has allowed one earned run over his last three turns and limited opponents to two runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts. That includes six scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over Oakland on Aug. 19.
Cotton escaped with a no-decision at Seattle on Saturday, lasting only four innings and giving up four runs on seven hits, including three homers. He beat the Astros on Aug. 20 by tossing 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball, but has surrendered at least four runs in six of his last eight starts. Keeping the ball in the park is a major issue for Cotton, who has yielded 24 homers in 114 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros OF Josh Reddick has 15 RBIs in his last 14 games, collecting multiple hits eight times in that span.
2. Davis is 7-for-13 with two homers and seven RBIs in the past three games.
3. Astros OF George Springer has five of his 31 homers in 58 at-bats versus Oakland.