Houston @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 24, 2013 ) Oakland 4, Houston 3

The Oakland Athletics begin a nine-game homestand Tuesday with the first of three against last-place Houston, which has provided little resistance to Oakland and enters on a down note. The Astros managed just one hit, a solo homer by Carlos Corporan, in a 2-1 loss to Texas on Monday, Houston's sixth straight setback. The A's have won 11 of the first 12 meetings between the teams, including the only three in Oakland back in April.

The A's had a recent swoon of their own but managed to crawl out of it by winning three of four in Toronto. The capper was a 5-1 win Monday afternoon in which Oakland scored four times in the top of the ninth inning. The victory kept the A's one game behind red-hot Texas in the battle for the American League West lead.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Jordan Lyles (4-6, 5.40 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (14-4, 2.75)

Lyles is 0-3 with an 8.80 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break, including a rocky outing against Boston on Tuesday. He gave up eight runs and nine hits while walking three in 4 2/3 innings as his season ERA soared over 5.00 for the first time since May. The 22-year-old former first-round pick has never faced Oakland.

Like Lyles, Colon is coming off a poor performance, although that has been rare for the veteran right-hander. He had produced 15 straight quality starts before giving up five runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 frames at Cincinnati on Wednesday. The big righty is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA against Houston this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland CF Coco Crisp sat out Monday's game in Toronto due to a sore left wrist. He is day-to-day.

2. The first five hitters in the Houston lineup Monday were a combined 0-for-17 with 11 strikeouts.

3. The A's have won 16 of 18 all-time meetings.

PREDICTION: Athletics 6, Astros 3