Astros at Athletics
Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros hope to snap out of a slump when they visit the improving Oakland Athletics on Monday for the opener of the three-game series between the American League West rivals. The 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner, Keuchel has started the season with just one win in six decisions, and the Astros have matched that record over their last six contests after suffering a 3-1 setback at Arizona on Sunday.
Houston leads the league in the fewest runs allowed (103) but has scored fewer than two in three of its last six contests, although Yuli Gurriel was able to extend his hitting streak to eight games (12-for-32) on Sunday. Keuchel, who gave up six runs and seven hits - three homers - over seven innings in a loss to Oakland on April 27, will oppose Brett Anderson in the series opener. The Athletics, who finished last in the AL West in 2017, are 18-16 and can match their season-high four-game winning streak on Monday. Jed Lowrie, who leads the major leagues with 48 hits and is riding a six-game streak during which he has gone 10-for-25, should be back in the lineup after being rested on Sunday.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (1-5, 3.98 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Brett Anderson (0-0, 2.84)
Keuchel has posted quality starts in three of his last four outings but received two runs of support in three losses during that stretch. The 30-year-old Arkansas product limited the New York Yankees to three runs and six hits over seven innings in a 4-0 loss on Wednesday and has not issued a walk in his last two starts. Matt Chapman is 4-for-7 with two doubles and a pair of homers versus Keuchel, who is 5-5 with a 2.88 ERA in 19 career appearances (17 starts) against Oakland.
Anderson makes his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville after allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings of a no-decision Wednesday at Seattle. The 30-year-old Texan made 13 starts last season with Toronto and the Chicago Cubs, going 4-4 with a 6.34 ERA. Josh Reddick (3-for-3) and Jake Marisnick (2-for-2) have homered against Anderson, who is 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA in three career games (two starts) versus Houston.
WALK-OFFS
1. Oakland C Jonathan Lucroy is 6-for-13 during his four-game hitting streak and has belted nine homers in 54 career contests versus Houston.
2. Houston 3B Alex Bregman homered on Sunday and has hit safely in five consecutive games (5-for-18).
3. The Astros took two of three from the Athletics at home from April 27-29 and went 25-13 against Oakland over the previous two seasons.