The A's open a critical three-game series against the first-place Astros on Monday night in Houston. Oakland enters the week 6 1/2 games behind the Astros in the American League West Division.
A's first baseman Matt Olson will try to extend his career-best 16-game hitting streak, the longest current streak in Major League Baseball. He will bat third in the order.
Oakland centerfielder Ramón Laureano is also on a roll at the plate, hitting .542 (13-for-24) last week with two home runs, six doubles, and 10 runs scored. For his efforts, he was named AL Player of the Week.
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The A's lineup will be in for a challenge, however, as they face talented right-hander Gerrit Cole. The 28-year-old leads the majors with 194 strikeouts in just 129 2/3 innings. He is 10-5 with a 3.12 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
In seven career starts against Oakland, Cole is 3-1 with a 3.30 ERA. He has been especially dominant against Olson, who is 0-for-17 lifetime against Cole with 10 strikeouts.
The A's will counter with right-hander Homer Bailey, who will make his second start since being acquired from Kansas City. Bailey, 33, allowed two runs in six innings against Seattle last week to earn the win in his Oakland debut.
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Oakland Athletics
For the season, Bailey is 8-6 with a 4.69 ERA. In eight career starts against Houston, he is 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA.
Here are the full lineups for the A's-Astros game, which will be broadcast on NBC Sports California and the MyTeams app. Coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. PT, with first pitch at 5:10.
Oakland A's (57-43)
Marcus Semien, SS
Matt Chapman, 3B
Matt Olson, 1B
Mark Canha, RF
Ramón Laureano, CF
Khris Davis, DH
Robbie Grossman, LF
Jurickson Profar, 2B
Josh Phegley, C
Homer Bailey, RHP (8-6, 4.69 ERA)
Houston Astros (64-37)
George Springer, CF
José Altuve, 2B
Alex Bregman, SS
Michael Brantley, LF
Yordan Álvarez, DH
Yuli Gurriel, 1B
Josh Reddick, RF
Robinson Chirinos, C
Aledmys Díaz, 3B
Gerrit Cole, RHP (10-5, 3.12 ERA)