The regular season is closing in, and it's a tight race to see who will take the division lead. Will the Astros blow an easy series and miss out on playoff chances? Or will they get the job done and continue on after the regular season?
The Houston Astros came into Sutter Health Park hot, and Lucas Spence specifically was on fire Thursday night. Spence did the unthinkable, crushing not just his first major league home run, but three home runs total in the series opener. He was responsible for 5 of the Astros' 7 runs. An unbelievable game for the young infielder, just unbelievable.
The Astros and Rangers remain deadlocked atop the AL West, both sitting at 79-80 entering play. With just three games left on the schedule for both teams, every single result matters. The Athletics, whom the Astros are facing, sit at 63-96, one of the worst records in baseball. The Rangers, meanwhile, face the Twins, who are 72-83 and long since out of playoff contention. On paper, this should be the time for the Astros to finally get a head start and secure the division lead, with ease for that matter, but you never know.
Houston Astros @ Athletics 8:40 PM CT | Sutter Health Park
Here is a look at the pitching matchup:
For the Astros:
Hunter Brown takes the mound for Houston. He's sitting at 6-3 with a 3.26 ERA and 120 strikeouts this season, giving the Astros a real advantage on paper heading into this one. Hunter Brown is definitely a guy you want on the mound if you're looking for a win.
For the Athletics:
Jacob Lopez takes the mound for the Athletics. He's had a rough season overall, sitting at a 5.68 ERA with 108 strikeouts. This would be a great time for the Astros to capitalize on Lopez's weak spots, but also not a guy they want to sleep on. He has been inconsistent all season, so it will be interesting to see what version the Astros get Friday night.
Astros lineup: TBD
Athletics lineup: TBD
This is a game they just can't lose, and to be honest, they shouldn't lose a single game for the remaining part of the regular season. A loss to the A's would be embarrassing, and a complete missed opportunity to win the division lead. The Rangers actually have a small challenge. The Astros have a cakewalk. This is not a series to blow.
