Oakland @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2018 ) Houston 9, Oakland 4

The race for the American League West crown takes on a head-to-head form this week, with the Houston Astros hosting the Oakland Athletics on Monday for the opener of their three-game series. The Astros own a 1 1/2-game division lead over the Athletics heading into the set and come in hot with a five-game winning streak.

Houston (80-50) moved 30 games over .500 by sweeping the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend to cap a nine-game road trip and will play its next 10 contests at home as it tries to create some separation in the West. The Astros are thriving behind the healthy return of reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve, who is 7-for-20 with a homer, three RBIs and four runs scored in five games since missing nearly four weeks while on the disabled list for the first time in his career. The Athletics did not have to deal with Altuve while winning two of three against Houston from Aug. 17-19 and got their road trip started over the weekend by taking three of four at Minnesota. Oakland will try to chip a game off its deficit in the AL West behind Brett Anderson on Monday while the Astros counter with All-Star Gerrit Cole.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (3-3, 3.47 ERA) vs. Astros RH Gerrit Cole (11-5, 2.73)

Anderson is thriving this month, allowing a total of two runs over 26 2/3 innings in four starts. The lone win in that span came on Tuesday, when the 30-year-old Texan yielded one hit and a walk while striking out six in seven scoreless innings against his home-state Rangers. Anderson suffered through his worst start of the season at home against Houston on May 7 as he was ripped for nine runs - seven earned - and 10 hits in three innings of a loss.

Cole (226) is looking to take over the AL strikeout lead from teammate Justin Verlander (229) as he needs four against the Athletics, which would represent his lowest total of the season. The 27-year-old Californian struck out 12 over six innings in a victory over Colorado on Aug. 15 and fanned seven over five frames in a no-decision at Seattle last Monday. Cole registered 11 strikeouts in six scoreless innings against Oakland on July 9 but did not factor in the decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Athletics placed LHP Sean Manaea (shoulder) on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday.

2. Houston 3B Alex Bregman has hit safely in each of his last seven games and scored at least one run in four straight.

3. Oakland 3B Matt Chapman has gone 9-for-19 with three homers, five RBIs and four runs scored in his last four contests.

PREDICTION: Astros 4, Athletics 3