Astros at Athletics
The Houston Astros attempt to complete a three-game sweep when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Sunday for the finale of their series. Houston claimed a 5-1 decision on Saturday for its fourth win in five overall contests as Justin Verlander passed Cy Young on the all-time strikeout list while Josh Reddick homered for the second straight day against his former team.
Verlander registered eight strikeouts to increase his career total to 2,809 as he moved ahead of Young for 21st in league history. Robinson Chirinos joined Reddick by going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer as the Astros clinched their third consecutive series victory and improved to 8-0-1 in sets since dropping three of four in Minnesota from April 29-May 2. Stephen Piscotty recorded two of Oakland's five hits Saturday and accounted for its run with a solo blast as the club suffered its fourth straight loss following a 10-game winning streak. Piscotty has hit safely in five of his last six contests and has registered four multi-hit performances in that span.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Gerrit Cole (5-5, 4.02 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (3-1, 3.27)
Cole bounced back from a rough outing against the Chicago White Sox by limiting the crosstown Cubs to two runs and three hits over six innings en route to victory Monday. The 28-year-old Californian recorded his sixth double-digit strikeout performance by registering a season high-tying 12, raising his major league-leading total to 112. Cole owns a 3-1 record and 3.38 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 37 2/3 frames in six starts versus Oakland.
Bassitt came away with a victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday despite yielding five runs and six hits in five innings. It marked the first time in seven turns this season the 30-year-old native of Ohio gave up more than three runs and the second time in two outings he was unable to last more than five frames. Bassitt has gone 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance versus Houston in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics LHP Brett Anderson left Saturday's contest after 5 1/3 innings with an undisclosed injury, marking the third time this season he has exited with an ailment.
2. Houston DH Michael Brantley went 2-for-3 on Saturday to extend his hitting streak to five games (8-for-16).
3. Oakland activated DH-OF Khris Davis (hip/oblique), who went 0-for-4 on Saturday, from the 10-day injured list and optioned OF Skye Bolt to Triple-A Las Vegas.