Houston Astros (42-58) at Oakland Athletics (61-38), 9:05 p.m. (CST)
TV: CSN Houston, MLB.TV
Radio: KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM
Athletics SBNation Blog: Athletics Nation
Pitching matchup
RHP Brad Peacock (3-6, 4.39 ERA, 1.51 WHIP) vs. RHP Jesse Chavez (7-6, 3.14 ERA, 1.30 WHIP)
Preview
The Astros have a three-game winning streak against the team with the best record in baseball, the Oakland Atheltics. Who knew? It only took 12-innings to close out last night's game. L.J. Hoes was ready to go to bed and put one in the seats. Tonight, the Astros hope to ride a former A's farm hand to victory - Brad Peacock.
Peacock is coming off one of the most bizarre starts I've ever seen, Bo Porter removed his starter before he retired a second batter in the game on July 13. He wasn't injured and he hadn't given up eight runs in one inning. But, he did show clear signs that he didn't have control of his stuff. My guess is that it wouldn't have happened if baseball wasn't going into it's All-Star break, allowing Porter to tax his bullpen knowing they could rest.
July hasn't been Peacock's sharpest month; in three starts, he has given up 7 earned runs over 11.1 innings. Not good, when you are battling fellow starter Brett Oberholtzer for the fifth spot. Obi' allowed two runs over seven last night.
This is the third time Peacock is facing the A's and Chavez this season, previously faced them in back-to-back starts on April 20 and 25. He allowed five earned runs over 10 innings in those two games. Coco Crisp, Josh Donaldson, and Eric Sogard have been thorns in Peacock's side in his career. Crisp is 4-for-12 with four extra-base hits, and Donaldson is 3-for-11 with a double and home run. Sogard checks in with five hits in 11 at-bats with two doubles.
As previously noted, this is the third time these two pitchers have faced one another. Chavez gave up five earned runs over 11 innings in the previous games. The Astros may have caught him at the wrong time, Chavez has a 2.13 ERA at home this season in 50.2 innings. Though in July he has a 4.32 ERA in 16.2 innings. Chavez gave up three earned runs over 5.2 innings in his last start on July 12 against the Mariners.
Everytime I do these previews I look at the previous at-bats against each pitcher. It's very rare that I see Jose Altuve with a bad record against a pitcher - today is no different. Altuve is 4-for-10 with two double in his career against Chavez. Marwin Gonzalez is 2-for-3 with a home run against the A's starter. On the flip side, Jason Castro is 2-for-8 with four strikeouts. New left fielder, Marc Krauss is 0-for-6 against Chavez.