Astros at Athletics
The Houston Astros are riding a nine-game winning streak and are getting contributions from up and down the roster. The Astros will try to keep winning at the expense of another American League West rival when they visit the Oakland Athletics for the opener of a two-game series on Tuesday.
Houston, which began its winning streak with a three-game sweep of Oakland at home, took three at Seattle over the weekend to begin the eight-game trip, with Aledmys Diaz's seventh-inning home run proving to be the difference in Sunday's 3-2 triumph. "You see a lot of stars on this team, but everybody is humble," Diaz told reporters. "Everybody tries to push for the win. This is a great experience for me. I like being in this clubhouse." The Athletics are tearing the cover off the ball with a total of 46 runs in the last five games but had a four-game winning streak come to an end with an 8-7 setback at Texas on Sunday. Trying to quiet that offense for the Astros on Tuesday will be right-hander Collin McHugh while Oakland gives the nod to veteran righty Marco Estrada, who is looking for his first win.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Collin McHugh (2-1, 2.65 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Marco Estrada (0-1, 4.87)
McHugh surrendered two or fewer runs in each of his first three starts and owns 22 strikeouts in 17 total innings after fanning nine across six frames against the New York Yankees on Wednesday. The 31-year-old yielded his first homer of the season against the Yankees but limited the damage to two runs and four hits. McHugh was even better against Oakland on April 5, scattering one run and three hits over six innings to pick up the win.
Estrada tossed six scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels on March 29 and was solid against Boston five days later before struggling against Baltimore on April 8. The Long Beach State product was ripped for six runs on nine hits - two homers - in four innings to suffer the loss against the Orioles. Estrada made two starts against Houston as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays last season and went 0-1 while allowing a total of seven earned runs and 15 hits in 9 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics LF Khris Davis leads the league with 10 homers but went 1-for-8 without an extra-base hit in two games against the Astros.
2. Oakland SS Marcus Semien hit safely in nine straight games and scored at least one run in each of the last eight.
3. Houston LF Michael Brantley recorded multiple hits in five of the last eight contests.