Oakland @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 14, 2018 ) Houston 7, Oakland 3

The Oakland Athletics can attribute the bulk of their 10-game deficit in the American League West to their inability to win inside their division, especially versus the Houston Astros. The surging Athletics hope the momentum they have generated over the last three-plus weeks will lead to some progress in the standings starting on Monday, when they visit Houston for the opener of a four-game series.

Oakland improved to 6-0-1 over its last seven sets following Sunday's 6-0 victory at Cleveland and has won 16 of its last 20 contests since being swept by Houston from June 12-14. Since winning 8-1 in the first of their nine meetings with the Astros this season on April 27, the Athletics have been outscored 69-20 while dropping the next eight to the AL West leaders - contributing greatly to Oakland's dismal 12-25 division record. The Astros own a 27-10 mark inside the West - the best record for any major-league team against its own division - and are coming off a four-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox that completed the first leg of their 11-game homestand heading into the All-Star break. Houston settled for a 2-1 triumph on Sunday after combining for 23 runs and 30 hits in its previous two games and has won six in a row overall, including three by one run.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Frankie Montas (4-2, 3.83 ERA) vs. Astros RH Gerrit Cole (9-2, 2.70)

Montas has cooled off after going 4-1 with a 2.41 ERA over his first five starts of the season, surrendering a total of nine runs and 17 hits over 8 2/3 innings since. The 25-year-old Dominican did not allow a homer for the third straight outing on July 1 against Cleveland but suffered a defeat anyway after yielding three runs in 5 2/3 frames. Montas' only loss during his strong start came against Houston on June 14, when he was tagged for seven runs - five earned - over 5 1/3 innings.

Cole escaped with a no-decision Wednesday at Texas after surrendering four runs and eight hits while registering seven strikeouts in five innings. The 2015 All-Star has failed to work more than five frames in two of his last three starts - he lasted at least six in 14 of his first 15 turns - and has issued 19 walks over his last seven outings to match the total from his first 11 efforts. Cole was sharp in a win at Oakland on May 9, permitting one run while striking out nine over six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros DH Evan Gattis, who has driven in a major league-best 55 runs since May 12, went 5-for-12 with three homers and 10 RBIs during a three-game sweep in Oakland last month.

2. Oakland is the only team in the majors that has yet to lose when leading after seven innings (34-0).

3. Houston went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position Sunday after going 14-for-30 in those situations over its previous two contests.

PREDICTION: Astros 7, Athletics 3