Four games remain, and the Astros need to take care of business against a last-place Athletics team to keep their season alive.
The Houston Astros arrive in Sacramento for the final series of the regular season, and every game left matters.
The Astros head down the coast to face the Athletics, and boy do they need a few wins. This is their final series of the regular season, and everything is riding on this series. A win to open the four-game series would be a great way to set the tone to finish the season strong and make their way to the playoffs.
Coming off a tough loss to the Seattle Mariners, they are entering their series tied with the Rangers for the AL West lead. They came close to taking the lead back, but just couldn't get the job done Wednesday night. An unusual performance by Josh Hader, and the Astros continue to fight for the playoff spot.
Here is a look at what to expect for the final series of the regular season for the Houston Astros.
Houston Astros @ Athletics
9:40 PM CT | Sutter Health Park
Houston enters at 78-80, still holding the tiebreaker over the Rangers in the AL West. The Athletics sit at 63-95, one of the worst records in baseball. This should be an easy sweep, but you just never know with this Astros team. Will they play to their potential or unravel? Only time will tell.
Here is a look at the pitching matchup:
For the Astros:
Peter Lambert takes the mound for Houston, making his 28th start of the season. He's sitting at 8-10 with a 3.70 ERA and 147 strikeouts, and he's been one of the most reliable arms on this staff all year. Like always, Lambert needs to give them length and command, which he almost always does. Despite the Athletics' record, this is not the time to get caught sleeping and let the season slip away.
For the Athletics:
Mason Barnett gets the ball for Oakland. It's been a rough season for the 25-year-old, sitting at a 7.16 ERA with 42 strikeouts on the year. Again, despite his numbers, this is not the time for the lineup to get caught sleeping.
Astros lineup: TBD
Athletics lineup: TBD
The Astros are keeping their fans on their toes. This has been one up and down season, and they are keeping things interesting until the very end. This would be a great time to let their fans breathe and collect those easy wins. On paper, this should be a nice and easy way to finish up the regular season, and make their way back into the playoff world.
