Oakland @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 10, 2019 ) Oakland 21, Houston 7

The Oakland Athletics recovered from a 15-run setback to post a severe 14-run beating of their own while recording a season high for runs and equaling the franchise record of 25 hits. The visiting Athletics look to ride the momentum to another strong effort when they visit the Houston Astros for the third contest of their four-game series on Wednesday, one day after posting an impressive 21-7 triumph.

Matt Olson and Sean Murphy each belted two homers while Marcus Semien and Khris Davis also went deep for Oakland, which remains one-half game ahead of Cleveland for the American League's second wild-card spot. Davis' blast was his 20th of the season, making the Athletics the eighth team in major-league history to have seven players reach the plateau as Olson, Semien, Matt Chapman, Jurickson Profar, Ramon Laureano and Mark Canha also have accomplished the feat. Houston, which is 9 1/2 games ahead of the Athletics in the AL West, received two homers apiece from George Springer and Martin Maldonado to establish a new franchise record of 252 blasts. Springer is one homer shy of the career-best 34 he hit in 2017 and has launched 11 leadoff shots this season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (11-9, 4.08 ERA) vs. Astros RH Jose Urquidy (1-1, 5.33)

Anderson will establish a new career high for victories should he post another win this season. The 31-year-old escaped with a no-decision in his last turn after yielding five runs - three earned - and eight hits over five innings against the Los Angeles Angels. Anderson lost to the Astros on Aug. 18, when he allowed four runs and seven hits over five frames, and is 1-5 with a 6.68 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) versus the club.

Urquidy will make his sixth start and seventh appearance of the campaign. The 24-year-old rookie settled for a no-decision against Seattle in his last turn after permitting one run and two hits over four innings. Urquidy has registered 24 strikeouts and issued just five walks in 27 frames but has served up five home runs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Laureano (leg) has missed three straight games but hopes to return to the lineup on Wednesday.

2. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel (hamstring) has sat out four consecutive contests and his return date remains uncertain.

3. Olson became the third 1B to hit 30 homers in a season during the Athletics' Oakland era, joining Mark McGwire (eight times) and Jason Giambi (three).

PREDICTION: Astros 8, Athletics 7