Houston @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2015 ) Houston 9, Oakland 10

The Houston Astros look to avoid having their division lead dwindle any further as they visit the American League West-rival Oakland Athletics on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Houston dropped a 10-9 decision in the opener of its 10-game road trip to watch its division lead over second-place Texas shrink to two games.

Rookie Carlos Correa homered and drove in four runs while Jonathan Villar and Jake Marisnick also went deep as the Astros fell short on their comeback attempt and lost for the fourth time in six contests. Mark Canha and Josh Phegley homered while joining Billy Burns and Coco Crisp in driving in two runs apiece as Oakland halted its five-game slide and improved to 2-5 on its nine-game homestand. The Athletics evened their records against Houston this season at 4-4 at home and 7-7 overall. Oakland will be battling a familiar face Tuesday as it takes on Scott Kazmir for the first time since the veteran was dealt to Houston prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Houston), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Scott Kazmir (7-9, 2.50 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Sonny Gray (12-7, 2.36)

Kazmir settled for a no-decision against Seattle on Wednesday after yielding three runs - two earned - and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. The 31-year-old Texan has won just one of his last seven outings after scattering three hits over seven scoreless frames of a triumph at Kansas City in his debut with Houston on July 24. Kazmir has made 19 career starts against Oakland, going 10-6 with a 4.01 ERA.

Gray lost his third straight decision on Wednesday, when he surrendered a season high-tying six runs in five innings against the Los Angeles Angels. It marked the first time in eight outings the 25-year-old native of Tennessee yielded more than three earned runs. Gray has not been victorious since Aug. 7 when he improved to 3-2 lifetime versus Houston by allowing one run and five hits en route to his third complete game of the year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Of Canha's 13 home runs during his rookie season, 12 have come against right-handers.

2. Houston 2B Jose Altuve went 0-for-4 on Monday, ending his 20-game hitting streak.

3. Oakland C Stephen Vogt remained at home Monday after being hit in the groin by a foul tip the day before.

PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Astros 3