Altuve gives ’Stros edge

The clock is ticking as we wind down to the September Stretch. And you all know what happens when the clock strikes 12 for Cinderella.

The A’s and Brett Anderson (3-3, 3.47 ERA) travel to Houston to take on the Astros and Gerrit Cole (11-5, 2.73 ERA) in a crucial three-game series that begins tonight between the top two teams in the AL West. Don’t get me wrong. The A’s have been a great story this season. A team with the lowest payroll in the majors goes on an incredible run. What’s not to like?

On July 21, the A’s were nine games back of the Astros for first. On Aug. 21, the teams were tied. The A’s took two of the three from Astros about a week ago, but there was one little/big thing missing — Jose Altuve. Tick, tick, tick ... Last season’s AL MVP — and the Astros’ leading hitter — had been on the shelf for about three weeks with a bum knee. However, since his return on, coincidentally, the same day the A’s pulled even, the Astros haven’t lost a game.

Cole hasn’t given up more than four runs in any of his 26 starts for the Astros.

THE PLAY: The Astros have a 1 ¹/2-game lead. And though the price on them might be a little steep, here’s one vote saying it’ll be worth it.

Former Yankees pitcher Josh Towers is a regular contributor on VSiN. You can catch him Wednesday with Gill Alexander on “A Numbers Game’’ from 10 amnoon on VSiN.com or SiriusXM 204.