Athletics (30-32, second in the AL West) vs. Houston Astros (28-36, fourth in the AL West)Houston; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: Jack Perkins (2-2, 5.46 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 33 strikeouts); Astros: Peter Lambert (4-4, 3.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 43 strikeouts)LINE: Athletics -110, Astros -109; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros host the Athletics to begin a three-game series.Houston has a 28-36 record overall and a 14-18 record in home games. The Astros are 17-9 in games when they scored five or more runs.The Athletics have a 30-32 record overall and a 19-15 record on the road. The Athletics have the 10th-best team slugging percentage in the majors at .396.Friday’s game is the fourth time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Yordan Alvarez leads the Astros with 21 home runs while slugging .649. Jeremy Pena is 15 for 37 with a double, three home runs and seven RBIs over the past 10 games.
Tyler Soderstrom has 17 doubles, two triples and eight home runs for the Athletics. Shea Langeliers is 7 for 40 with two doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 5-5, .241 batting average, 4.40 ERA, outscored opponents by nine runsAthletics: 4-6, .236 batting average, 5.29 ERA, outscored by 23 runsINJURIES: Astros: Braden Shewmake: 10-Day IL (groin), Carlos Correa: 60-Day IL (ankle), Lance McCullers: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Bennett Sousa: 15-Day IL (elbow), Yainer Diaz: 10-Day IL (abdominal), Jose Altuve: 10-Day IL (side), Hunter Brown: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brandon Walter: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow)
