Houston @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2018 ) Houston 1, Oakland 7

The Oakland Athletics have erased a 12-game deficit in a two-month span and can take over first place in the American League West when they finish a three-game series with the visiting Houston Astros on Sunday. With an extra-inning triumph in the series opener and a 7-1 win Saturday, the Athletics improved to 40-13 since the middle of June to tie the defending champs atop the division.

Matt Olson delivered the walk-off homer Friday and had two hits, two runs and an RBI to pace an 11-hit attack Saturday. Trevor Cahill yielded one hit in seven scoreless frames for Oakland as the club cut its ERA since the All-Star break to 2.90, tops in the majors in that span. Sean Manaea will try to keep that run going as he opposes Astros right-hander Justin Verlander, who will be making his third attempt at career win No. 200. Houston is 7-12 since reigning MVP Jose Altuve (knee) last played a game July 25, but the three-time batting champ is set to begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Fresno.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (11-8, 2.52 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Sean Manaea (11-8, 3.44)

Verlander was knocked around by Seattle in his first bid to join the 200-win club and then received a tough loss against Colorado on Tuesday. He limited the Rockies to two runs while striking out 11 in six innings of the 5-1 setback. The seven-time All-Star blanked the Athletics over six frames in a matchup July 10 at home and is 11-6 with a 2.55 ERA in 19 career encounters.

Manaea bounced back from a rocky start two turns ago to defeat the Mariners with 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball on Monday. He was reached for three runs and seven hits over four innings opposite Verlander in Houston last month. George Springer is 9-for-28 and Alex Bregman has three homers in 17 at-bats against Manaea, who has a 2.82 ERA lifetime versus the Astros.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland RF Stephen Piscotty has four doubles in his last four games.

2. Bregman drew a walk Saturday and has reached safely in 38 straight road games.

3. The teams meet once more for a three-game series at Houston from Aug. 27-29.

PREDICTION: Astros 4, Athletics 3