The Houston Astros have revealed their probable starters for this weekend's three-game series against the Athletics, a set of matchups that closes out their homestand and carries added weight in a tight American League West race.
The series comes after a rough stretch for Houston. The Astros lost a midweek series against the Los Angeles Angels at Daikin Park and have gone 2-4 over their last six games. That recent slide has left them just one game ahead in the division race with the Texas Rangers, making every start in this final homestand series more important than usual.
Probable starters for the series
Wesneski is lined up to open the series for Houston after a rough last outing against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, when he gave up five earned runs on seven hits in four innings. He enters with a 2-1 record and a 5.16 ERA, and the Astros will be looking for a sharper response as they try to steady the rotation.
Brown is also expected to take the ball for Houston in the series. On Sunday, he issued five walks and gave up two earned runs through five innings on 90 pitches. Even with that uneven outing, the Astros still have the chance to lean on him as part of a series that could help them reset after a difficult week.
For the Athletics, Ginn is another notable name in the mix. Early in the season, Ginn came in relief twice against the Astros, and now he is part of a series that gives Houston another look at a club that has struggled badly for much of the year. Since June 20, the Athletics are 11-41, which helps explain why they are described as the worst team in baseball.
That does not make this series meaningless for Houston, though. The Astros are trying to protect a narrow lead in the AL West, and the final series of the homestand is a chance to do it before the schedule turns elsewhere. With a one-game margin and little room for error, the pitching plans against the Athletics will be watched closely.
If Houston can get quality outings from Wesneski, Brown and the rest of its rotation this weekend, it would go a long way toward stopping the recent skid and keeping control of the division race. If not, the pressure in the AL West will only increase.
