Athletics are on the upswing with Astros up next
Much has changed for the A’s since they last saw the Houston Astros.
The teams met at the Coliseum to open the season and the A’s looked completely overmatched: The Astros swept four games from the A’s in lopsided fashion, out-scoring Oakland 35-9 and scoring at least eight runs in each game. The A’s finally shook off what became a 0-6 start — their worst in over 100 years — and the 13-game win streak that followed began at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
It’s only been a few weeks, but the A’s are on a different trajectory from when the teams met last.
That streak vaulted the A’s into first place, a spot they haven’t relinquished in four weeks. The A’s are 25-17, having won four of their past
six games, including a series win against the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Astros have won eight of their past 10 and are 24-17.
Now the Astros are back for another series and just as strong despite injuries; can they turn the A’s back into pumpkins? They’ve had that effect before.
The A’s may be in first place, but the Astros are just a half-game back. May is too early to fret over the firstplace joust, but any head-tohead matchup can have a significant impact on the standings in the long term.
How might the series go? Here’s a closer look at the key players and factors.
BY THE NUMBERS >> The A’s are sitting on a negative-8 run differential heading into the series; they’re the only first place team in the American League in the red, but, on the other side of the coin, are tied with the Red Sox for most wins in baseball at 25.
The Houston Astros have
a plus-56 run differential, the second-highest in baseball right now — and they’re the only team in the AL West in the green.
Oakland has built its success this year on timely hits, edging opponents through unlikely comebacks with slim margin victories. They’re 17-5 in games decided by three runs or fewer and their four walk-off wins are tied with the New York Mets — the other first place team with a negative run differential — for most in MLB. Statistically, the A’s are in the middle of the pack. Their .702 OPS just cracked league average.
The Astros are on a different trajectory, powered by a humming offense. Their .765 OPS ranks second in baseball behind the Red Sox and their .266 average ranks first. WHO’S HOT >> Progress at the plate from Matt Chapman and Elvis Andrus could be catalysts for the A’s offensively in this series. Chapman’s 6-for-26 stretch over the eight games that followed a nine-game hit streak in which he was 11 for 33 speaks to his overall inconsistency at the plate this year. But a three-hit game on Sunday was a positive sign.
Andrus is seeing a similar kind of progress at the plate fueled by an opposite field approach. Though he has yet to hit his first home run in green and gold, Andrus has simplified his approach and is batting .346 (9 for 26) since the A’s trip to Tampa Bay.
The entire Astros lineup, save for Myles Straw, is dangerous right now. Slugger Yordan Alvarez was the team’s hottest hitter until leg soreness sidelined him last weekend. If he’s cleared to return, he could be the bat to watch. He’s batting .348 in 132 atbats with a .974 OPS. Among the other standouts: Yuli Gurriel is batting .322 with a .952 OPS and Michael Brantley is batting .297 with a leaguehigh .333 expected batting average.
POTENTIAL PITCHING MATCHUPS >> The Astros rotation was decimated by injury, and Framber Valdez and Jake Odorizzi aren’t set to return to their rotation for a few weeks.
Sean Manaea vs. Christian Javier — Manaea’s clunker of a start against the Boston Red Sox raised his ERA from a 3.07 to 4.40. He’s been strong in six of his eight starts, the Fenway fiasco and his first
start against the Astros to begin the season being the low points. Manaea has a chance for some run support in the series opener given how Javier is trending this month. He’s allowed 11 earned runs over 17 1/3 innings in three May starts. His best start was his last, where he allowed three runs over seven innings with six strikeouts against Texas.
Frankie Montas vs. Zack Greinke — Despite an inconsistent year, Montas is 3-0 with a 3.12 ERA over three starts this month. Success comes when Montas has command of and is aggressive in the zone with his four-seamer and sinker. Greinke is perpetually a burr in the A’s heel. He tossed six scoreless innings against them in his last start against them in Houston.
Cole Irvin vs Luis Garcia — An unexpected addition to the rotation out of camp, Irvin has been the A’s most consistent starter yet. He has a 3.02 ERA and held the Minnesota Twins to one run over 6 2/3 innings in Saturday’s eventual loss. Garcia’s velocity has fluctuated, but he’s given the A’s fits, including a seven strikeout relief appearance at the beginning of the year.