Houston at Oakland , 9:05 pm (CT)
TV: CSN Houston, MLB.TV
Radio: KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM
Athletics SBNation Blog: Athletics Nation
Pitching Match
RHP Jarred Cosart ( 1-0 / 1.36 ERA / 1.27 WHIP) vs. RHP Jarrod Parker (8-6 / 4.04 ERA / 1.23 WHIP)
Preview
Tonight's game is playing out like the first two Rocky films. In one corner is Jarred Cosart, the other is Jarrod Parker. In their first meeting, neither pitcher picked up the win in the battle of the Jarre/ods. Tonight they settle it once and for all.
How bout an @astros series win today?
— Jarred Cosart (@JarredCosart) August 14, 2013
With this tweet, I might be mister Cosart in the flashy Apollo Creed role, but that would be overlooking the Astros as a team. They of course are the underdog. Jarrod Parker is Creed, because the A's have the AL West belt at the moment.
Either way, tonight's pitching matchup is compelling to say the least. Cosart has continued to shine in his first five starts in the majors with a 1.36 ERA. He had his shortest outing of the year against Boston last time out, allowing two runs over five innings. Cosart also match his season high in walks with five in that start.
In his previous start against Oakland, Cosart gave up only one earned run over seven innings. He scattered seven hits, walked three, and struck out four. Josh Donaldson was 3-for-3 with a double in the right-hander's lone start against the A's. Eric Sogard also checked in with a double off Cosart. Coco Crisp was 2-for-4 with two strikeouts in the game. Brandon Moss and Josh Reddick were both 0-for-3 against the League City product.
As for the other Jarrod, Mr. Parker has 17 quality starts in 23 appearances. He has won his last two games, giving five earned runs over 12 innings of work - walking three and striking out 12. In his one start this season against Houston, gave up one run over seven innings.
Jonathan Villar has the Astros' lone career extra base hit off Parker, a double - one of his two hits in three at-bats. Jose Altuve (1-3) and Jason Castro (1-4) each have a single and a run batted in off the right-hander. Brandon Barnes, Chris Carter, Matt Dominguez, and Brett Wallace weren't able to get a hit off Parker in their first meeting.