Astros at Athletics
The Houston Astros have had no answers for the host Oakland Athletics thus far this weekend, allowing a total of 31 runs in losing the first three contests of their four-game series. American League West-leading Houston turns to ace Dallas Keuchel on Sunday as it attempts to salvage the finale and maintain the best record in the junior circuit.
The Astros entered the series with a seven-game winning streak after sweeping three in Seattle to begin their 10-game road trip but dropped a 9-8 decision in the opener on Friday before allowing 11 runs in each game of Saturday's doubleheader while scoring only five in the sweep. Jose Altuve went 2-for-8 in the twinbill to see his major league-leading average drop to .350 but has homered twice in the series for Houston, which shares the best record in the AL (86-56) with Cleveland thanks to the Central Division leader's 17-game winning streak. Boog Powell and Chad Pinder, the first two batters in Oakland's lineup, combined to go 4-for-9 with seven RBIs in the second game on Saturday as the club posted its fourth straight win. Pinder went deep in both the seventh and eighth inning for his third career two-homer performance and has recorded at least one RBI in four consecutive contests.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), NBCSN California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (12-3, 2.88 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (4-4, 4.70)
Keuchel bounced back from a rough outing against Texas on Monday, when he allowed two runs over 7 2/3 innings in a victory at Seattle. The 29-year-old native of Oklahoma has given up fewer than three earned runs in four of his last five turns after yielding three or more in straight outings. Keuchel is 5-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 17 career appearances (15 starts) versus the Athletics, winning all three of his starts against them this year while permitting a total of two runs over 21 2/3 frames.
Graveman is riding a three-start unbeaten streak despite struggling in each of his last two outings - both no-decisions. The 26-year-old from Alabama yielded four runs on five hits and three walks over five innings against the Angels at home on Tuesday after surrendering five runs on six hits - three homers - and three free passes over five frames at Los Angeles on Aug. 30. Graveman is 3-3 with a 3.99 ERA in eight career starts against Houston but 0-1 in two turns this year, even though he allowed a total of three runs in 11 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros C Juan Centeno exited the first game of Saturday's doubleheader after being hit in the mask with the follow-through of a swing and is expected to miss "a little bit of time", according to MGR A.J. Hinch.
2. Oakland OF Khris Davis is one RBI shy of the career high of 102 he set last season as he became the first Athletic with back-to-back 100-RBI campaigns since Miguel Tejada (2000-03) and Eric Chavez (2001-03).
3. Houston C Evan Gattis (wrist) was activated from the disabled list and is expected to be the designated hitter on Sunday.