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Game No. 25 Preview: Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics

Astros attempt to save face one more time and steal game three of a series.

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Astros (7-17) at Oakland Athletics (13-12), May 1, 2016, 3:05 PM CDT

TV: ROOT SPORTS Southwest
Online: MLB.TV
Radio: KBME 790, La Nueva 94.1 FM (En Español) 
A's SB Nation Blog: Athletics Nation

Pitching Matchup

RHP Doug Fister (1-3, 5.56 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) vs. LHP Rich Hill (3-2, 2.42 ERA, 1.27 WHIP)

Preview

The TCB staff has started talking about draft picks. That is what it has come to. The Astros went 7-17 in April a year after Houston rode a 15-7 record in April almost all the way to a division title. This isn't the end for sure, but the Astros have dug themselves a mighty deep hole.

That hole looks even bigger then the Astros must rely on Doug Fister to save face and avoid a sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics.

Fister is coming off back-to-back solid starts for the Astros. He has allowed just five runs over his last 12 innings of work. The home run ball has been a trouble for Fister, he has given up a long ball in all four of his starts this season.

Fister is 2-4 with a 3.32 ERA in seven starts at Oakland Coliseum in his career. Current A's are batting .284 (33x116) against Fister with a .347 BABIP, 2.236 FIP, 17.07 K%, and 4.00 BB%.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS CAREER STATISTICS VS. DOUG FISTER
BATTER AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
Billy Butler 37 11 0 0 0 5 2 4 0.297 0.317 0.297 0.614
Coco Crisp 15 6 0 2 0 1 0 1 0.400 0.400 0.667 1.067
Sam Fuld 9 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 0.444 0.500 0.556 1.056
Jed Lowrie 15 4 2 0 0 0 0 1 0.267 0.267 0.400 0.667
Eric Sogard 10 3 0 0 0 3 0 3 0.300 0.300 0.300 0.600
Josh Reddick 8 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.500
Chris Coghlan 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000
Khris Davis 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000
Josh Phegley 6 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0.167 0.167 0.167 0.333
Danny Valencia 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.125 0.125 0.125 0.250

Rich Hill is in his first season with the Oakland Athletics after bouncing between the Nationals, Red Sox, and the minor leagues. Hill, 36, has found some magic this season -- allowing just seven runs over 26 innings. He is coming off his best start of the season, pitching seven scoreless innings against the Tigers on April 26.

Hill is 0-3 with an 8.31 ERA in five games (three starts) at Oakland Coliseum in his career. Current Astros are 0.125 (1x8) against Fister with .167 BABIP, 4.152 FIP, 20.00 K%, and 20.00 BB%.

HOUSTON ASTROS CAREER STATISTICS VS. RICH HILL
BATTER AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
Jason Castro 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.500 0.500 0.500 1.000
Carlos Gomez 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.333 0.333 0.333 0.667
Jake Marisnick 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Colby Rasmus 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.000 0.250 0.000 0.250
Jon Singleton 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.000 1.000 0.000 1.000