Game 4 Preview: Astros vs. Athletics

Houston vs. Oakland, 7:05 CT

TV: CSN Houston
Radio: KBME 790 AM
Athletics SBNation Blog: Athletics Nation

Pitching Match

RHP Brad Peacock (2012 AAA SAC: 12-9 / 6.01 ERA / 1.59 WHIP) vs. RHP Dan Straily (2012: 2-1 / 3.89 ERA / 1.322 WHIP)

Preview

The Astros welcome another member of their new division tonight, the Oakland Athletics. Jeff Luhnow and Billy Beane have already introduced themselves. Former Astros and Athletics all over the field tonight. Jed Lowrie and Nat Freiman return to Houston. Manager Bo Porter, Chris Carter, and Brad Peacock welcome their former team to the Juice Box.

Brad Peacock gets the start tonight after a quality Spring Training with a record 0-1 with a 2.78 ERA and 1.103 WHIP. Peacock came to Oakland this past season as part of the Gio Gonzalez trade, but never really got off the ground in Oakland. One of the reasons Peacock is now in a Astros uniform is the emergence of Dan Straily. In 2012, Straily was 6-3 with 2.03 ERA and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings rate with AAA Sacramento. Straily was called up by the A's at the end of the season, making seven starts in August and September. Peacock will get every opportunity to give Oakland buyer's remorse.

The Astros offense has been dreadful, period. The only two bright spot have been Justin Maxwell's two triple game against the Rangers and Jose Altuve's .417 AVG thus far. The Astros have zero stolen bases through three games and lead the league in strikeouts already. The next closest in strikeouts is the Angels and they've already played four games. Hopefully Chris Carter will be motivated to get his first hit against the team that traded him in the offseason. On the other hand, the Athletics have been hot over the past two games. Former Astro, Jed Lowrie he has been tearing it up - four hits and three RBIs over the past two games. Reddick and Cespedes shaken off the rust, and homered against the Mariners in the previous series.

The Astros will be wearing their orange jerseys for the first time, hopefully it bring a change in the hitting as well.