ON DECK: OAKLAND A’S AT ASTROS

When/where: Friday at 7:10 p.m., Saturday at 3:10 p.m., Sunday at 1:10 p.m.; Minute Maid Park.

TV/radio: ATTSW; 790 AM and 1010 AM (Spanish) all three games, 740 AM on Friday.

Pitchers: Friday, RHP José Urquidy (8-3, 4.08) vs. LHP Cole Irvin (3-7, 3.32); Saturday, RHP Justin Verlander (11-3, 2.00) vs. LHP Jared Koenig (1-2, 6.38); Sunday, TBD vs. TBD.

Astros (58-30) update: All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker has 17 home runs and 15 stolen bases, making him one of only two players in the majors with at least 15 of each. Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez has 15 home runs and 21 steals. … Reliever Ryne Stanek’s scoreless streak is up to 24 innings. His ERA is 0.60, which ties him with Boston’s John Schreiber for the lowest in the majors among pitchers who have thrown at least 30 innings. … Verlander’s win in his last start was the 237th of his career, moving him past Whitey Ford and into a tie with Hall of Famers Clark Griffith and Waite Hoyt for 61st place all-time. … Verlander has 3,111 career strikeouts, leaving him five behind Bob Gibson and six shy of Curt Schilling on the all-time list. Verlander presently ranks 16th, 12 ahead of Max Scherzer, whom he passed while the latter was on the injured list.

Athletics (30-60) update: With the American League’s worst record, Oakland is on pace for 108 losses. The only time the A’s lost 100 games since moving from Kansas City in 1968 was 1979, when they were 54-108. … Oakland ranks last in all three slash categories at .210/.272/.331, and its on-base percentage is threatening the American League record low of .274 by the 1905 Washington Senators. … With 10 home runs, first baseman Seth Brown is the only player on the team in double figures. … Frankie Montas (3-9, 3.26), viewed as a prime trade candidate, might pitch Sunday after missing a start with shoulder inflammation, but manager Mark Kotsay said the righthander was a little sore after throwing a Wednesday bullpen and remains day-to-day.