Oakland A’s starter Cole Irvin delivering here against the Los Angeles Angels on Mon Aug 8, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum will be starting on this current road trip for the A’s (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s are in Houston to start a three-game series with the Astros this weekend. The A’s have lost five in a row and will not have an easy task facing the AL West leader. The Astros are tied with the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League.

Each team has won 71 and lost 41. The A’s record is the opposite, with 41 wins and 71 losses. The A’s are on pace to lose 103 games. The A’s and Astros have met 12 times this season. Surprisingly, the A’s and the Astros have each won six games. The A’s swept the Astros in Oakland the last time the teams met.

The Astros made a couple of deals at the trading deadline to strengthen an already potent lineup. They made a deal with the Baltimore Orioles for Trey Mancini. Mancini is hitting .267 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs.

The Astros needed help in their catching department. They acquired Christian Vasquez from the Boston Red Sox. Vasquez is hitting. 278 with eight homers and 42 RBIs. Mancini can fill in at first base in place of Yuli Guriel when needed. Mancini can play in the outfield and be used in the DH slot.

The Astros have a solid infield with perennial All-Star Jose Altuve at second base. Rookie Jeremy Pena has been solid at shortstop, and Alex Bregman handles the hot corner. The Astro outfield is patrolled by Chas McCormick in left,

Jake Meters in center, and Kyle Tucker in right. Tucker loves to hit against the A’s pitching. Oakland pitchers will have to find a way to limit the damage that Tucker can provide. Astros’ big bopper, Yordan Alvarez, is another dangerous hitter. Alvarez is hitting a robust .295. The big (six-foot, five inches tall slugger) has blasted 31 dingers and knocked in 74.

The A’s will send Adam Oller (1-5, 7.63 ERA) to the mound Friday night. The Astros will counter with Luis Garcia (8-8, 3.93 ERA). The A’s have not announced their starter for Saturday’s game. Lance McCullers, Jr. will make his first start of the year for Houston.

McCullers is coming off the 60-day IL. Lefty Cole Irvin (6-9, 2.92 ERA) has been pitching well for Oakland. In his last start against the Angels, Irvin went eight innings and allowed one run and five hits. He lost the game 1-0 as the A’s offense failed to give him any run support. Christian Javier (6-8, 3.14 ERA) goes for Houston.

The A’s made a couple of roster moves on Wednesday. The A’s brought up outfielder CAl Stevenson from the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators. The A’s designated Jed Lowrie for assignment. Lowrie was in his third stint as an Athletic.

Oakland has seven days to either trade or release him. Lowrie believes he still has some gas left in his tank and hopes he can continue his career with another team.

The A’s, as mentioned above, have lost five straight and eight of the last nine. Oakland is 9-10 since the All-Star break, including the three-game sweep of the Astros. They are 15-16 in their last 31. The A’s offense went to sleep in the last five games.

They are hoping to get back on track against the Astros this weekend. The A’s have 50 games left to play. They will be looking at the performances of young players such as Nick Allen, Jonah Bride, Vimael Machin, Cal Stevenson, and Skye Bolt.

Their veterans Stephen Vogt, Elvis Andrus, Stephen Piscotty, Chad Pinder, and Tony Kemp may see limited playing time in the last 50 games.

It’s been a tough season for the A’s fans. The team is definitely in transition. The last 50 games will be a showcase for the young players.

Some of the veterans will not be back next year. Let’s hope the A’s can play well and hope they can bounce back in 2023. Taking two out of three from Houston would be a step in the right direction.