Oakland @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2015 ) Oakland 6, Houston 10

The Houston Astros are playing with fire in their quest to win the American League West, but at least the losing streak is over. The Astros will try to grab a series win and keep pace with the Texas Rangers in the AL West when they host the Oakland Athletics in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday.

Houston fell behind 6-3 on Saturday but came back to grab a 10-6 victory and snap a five-game slide. The win kept the slumping Astros 2 1/2 games behind the Rangers in the West, and they head into Sunday looking for just their second series win of the month before taking on the Los Angeles Angels and Texas to close out the homestand. The Athletics (64-85) have dropped six of their last 10 games and own the worst record in the American League but have taken six of nine from Houston since the All-Star break. The Astros will send Collin McHugh to the mound in the finale while Oakland counters with Aaron Brooks.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), ROOT (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Aaron Brooks (2-3, 7.68 ERA) vs. Astros RH Collin McHugh (16-7, 4.05)

Brooks was bailed out by his offense on Tuesday and picked up a win at the Chicago White Sox despite allowing six runs and 10 hits in six innings. The 25-year-old has been knocked around for a total of 17 runs in 12 1/3 innings over his last three outings. Brooks surrendered one run over seven innings to Houston on Aug. 6 but was reached for five runs over four frames in a loss to the Astros on Sep. 9.

McHugh is slowing down along with the rest of his team of late and allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks at Texas on Tuesday. The 28-year-old allowed two or fewer runs in six consecutive outings before yielding five in each of his last two turns. McHugh earned a win at Oakland on Sep. 9 despite those five runs allowed and is 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA in four career starts against the Athletics.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics C Josh Phegley is out indefinitely with a concussion.

2. Houston rookie C Max Stassi blasted his first career home run on Saturday.

3. Oakland C Stephen Vogt (groin) has been out since Sep. 5 but could return on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Astros 7, Athletics 4