The Oakland A’s have a prime opportunity to seize command of the American League West with their series against the Houston Astros.
The Oakland A’s find themselves about to enter an important series. On Friday, they are set to play a three game set against the Houston Astros, their closest competition in the American League West.
With 4.5 games separating the two teams, this may be the most important series of the year, thus far, for both franchises. If the Astros can win the series, they are suddenly back in contention for the division, putting the pressure on the A’s to hold on to that top spot for another month.
Meanwhile, for the A’s, winning the series essentially gives them control of their destiny. Sweeping the series would put the A’s 7.5 games ahead, while just winning the series would provide an extra game of cushion as the calendar moves to September.
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Oakland is set up as best as possible to do just that. Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montas, and Jesus Luzardo, the A’s three best starters, are slotted to pitch during the series. While the Astros do have Zack Greinke on Saturday, and Framber Valdez has been a revelation, Lance McCullers has struggled this season.
It will be interesting to see how the A’s pitching staff holds up against the Astros offense. They had scored the most runs of any AL team heading into Thursday, an impressive showing considering the plethora of injuries that they have had to withstand this season.
But the A’s had to know that it would not be easy to take the crown away from Houston. Even if they are battling injuries, and have gotten through the year with a patchwork bullpen, they are still a formidable opponent. This is still, as the standings show, a playoff caliber team.
It is fitting that the Oakland A’s path to seize control of the AL West goes through the Houston Astros. That quest begins in earnest on Friday night.