Game No. 25 Preview: Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics

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%.

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%.