Astros at Athletics
Mike Fiers aims to win his 10th consecutive decision when the Oakland Athletics open a four-game home series against the Houston Astros on Thursday. Fiers is unbeaten in his last 17 starts, a stretch that began with a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on May 7.
Oakland is a distant 9 1/2 games behind the Astros in the American League West and two games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the second wild card as it opens a nine-game homestand. Matt Chapman slugged two solo homers in Wednesday's 9-5 win over the San Francisco Giants to raise his season count to 27 as he approaches his first 30-blast campaign. The Astros racked up 15 hits Wednesday but were outslugged 13-9 by the Chicago White Sox for their third setback in four games. Hot-hitting Yuli Gurriel went 3-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs and is 13-for-28 with five homers, 15 RBIs and 11 runs over the past seven games.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Aaron Sanchez (5-14, 5.60 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Mike Fiers (11-3, 3.30)
Sanchez has won each of his first two starts for the Astros since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays. The 27-year-old tossed six hitless innings in a combined no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 3 in his team debut and allowed one run and three runs in five innings against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. Sanchez is 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA in two starts against Oakland this season and 1-2 with a 5.12 ERA in six career appearances (four starts).
Fiers struck out eight and allowed three hits over seven shutout innings while beating the Chicago White Sox in his last turn. The 34-year-old pitched well against the Astros on July 23 but settled for a no-decision despite allowing two runs and four hits over six innings. Fiers has a 5.63 ERA in three no-decisions versus Houston this season and is 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA in six career turns against the Astros.
WALK-OFFS
1. Astros 3B Alex Bregman (shoulder) went 2-for-5 with three RBIs in Wednesday's loss after missing both games of Tuesday's doubleheader.
2. Oakland recalled 2B Corban Joseph - who went 1-for-4 on Wednesday - from Triple-A Las Vegas, optioned OF Nick Martini to the same affiliate and designated C Beau Taylor for assignment to open up a 40-man roster spot for Joseph.
3. Houston RHP Gerrit Cole (hamstring) told reporters his injury was "not super serious," one day after being scratched from Tuesday's start against the White Sox.