File Photo: Houston Astros right fielder Josh Reddick (22) jersey has a patch honoring Houston Strong in the second inning during an MLB game between the Houston Astros and the New York Mets at Minute Maid Park, Saturday, September 2, 2017. Houston Astros defeated New York Mets 12-8.(Photo by Juan DeLeon/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND- The A’s are off on Thursday as they are still trying to figure out why they lost eight of the last nine games. The A’s salvaged a win against the LA Angels Wednesday but now have to face the Houston Astros for a four-game series starting Friday night at the Coliseum.

The A’s are in the midst of rebuilding the team for the future. They have jettisoned veteran players such as Stephen Vogt, Adam Rosales, Rajai Davis, Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson, John Axford, and Sonny Gray. Gray’s trade was a mystery as the team had control for two more years, but they received three prospects from the Yankees. Two of the prospects are pitchers, but two of the three players are currently on the DL. The A’s young position players have performed well and appear to be in the mix for next year. Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Chad Pinder, Boog Powell, Ryon Healy, and Bruce Maxwell will be the building blocks for the revival of the A’s. They need to improve the pitching, both in the starting rotation and the bullpen.

The A’s are looking at the model that the Houston Astros used to build their team from a team that lost over 100 games in three straight seasons to a team with the best record in the American League. The Astros started the rebuild with second baseman Jose Altuve. Altuve is leading the AL in hitting, and the Astros have teamed him with the terrific shortstop Carlos Correa. Correa was injured but is now off the DL.

George Springer is an All-Star and left field is held down by our old friend Josh Reddick. Reddick is having a great year in Houston and is hitting over. 300. There are no easy out in the Houston lineup. Jake MArisnick and Cameron Maybin are sharing the duties in center field. Marwin Gonzalez has given the ‘s fits over the years. Yuri Guriel is at first base, Brian McCann handles the catching, and the veteran Carlos Beltran is the DH.

The Astros pitching rotation has struggled at times, but the Astros made a trade late in August to bring in Justin Verlander. Verlander beat the Seattle Mariners in his first start as an Astro but will not pitch this weekend. The Astros’ starters will be Collin McHugh Friday night, Charlie Morton (11-6) and Brad Peacock (10-2) will pitch on Saturday. Peacock is winless in his last five starts and will be heading to the bullpen to make room for Verlander in the rotation. Dallas Keuchel (12-3), the former Cy Young award winner will go on Sunday.

The A’s Jharel Cotton pitches Friday night. Cotton is 7-10 but has pitched better in his two or three outings. Daniel Mengden(0-1) will make his first start since June 3rd. Mengden went on the DL and has been at Nashville since coming off the injury list. Daniel Gossett(3-8) will pitch the second game of the double header. Gossett had a tough outing in Seattle last week. He went just 3/23rds innings and gave up three runs and seven hits. Gossett has not completed four innings in his last five starts. Kendall Graveman (4-4) faces the Astros on Sunday. Graveman did not have a  good outing last Monday against the Angels. He gave up five runs in five innings of work. The A’s rallied to get him off the hook.

The Astros lead the Cleveland Indians by 2 1/2 games for the best record in the AL. The team with the best record has home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Indians are red hot right now. They have won fourteen games in a row and want to head into the playoffs as the team that no one wants to face. The Astros want the road to the World Series to go through Houston. They want to sweep the A’s this weekend. Bob Melvin and Company will give the Astros everything they can handle. The A’s may be down, but there is no quit in this team. Just ask Mike Scioscia and the Angels.