Game No. 58 Preview: Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics

Houston Astros (27-30) vs. Oakland Athletics (25-31), June 4, 2016, 1:10 p.m. CT

TV: Root Sports Southwest
Online: MLB.TV
Radio: KBME SportsTalk 790 AM, La Nueva 94.1 FM (En Español) 
Oakland Athletics SB Nation Blog: Athletics Nation

Pitching Matchup

RHP Lance McCullers (2-1, 4.79 ERA, 1.69 WHIP) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (3-5, 6.19 ERA, 1.65 WHIP)

Lineup

The Astros are one win away from their second (technically their third) series sweep of the season. The only thing standing between them and that fact is Sonny Gray. Gray was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of trapezius strain -- google says it's a back muscle. He was originally to make a rehab start before joining the major league club, but the injury to Rich Hill created a need for the A's.

So the Astros may be catching Sonny Gray at the right time as he gets his sea legs under him. Gray threw some bullpen session and faced live batters but didn't get into a game in the minors.

Gray struggled in May before going on the DL, he had an 0-3 record with a 9.61 ERA in four starts.

Gray is 4-2 with a 2.61 ERA in seven career starts against the Astros. He 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA in two career starts at Minute Maid Park. Current Astros are batting .296 (29x98) against Gray with a .329 BABIP, 4.33 FIP, 13.8 K%, and a 9.2 BB%.

Lance McCullers has been a little of good and bad. He has allowed just four runs over his last 10 innings of work, while striking out 17. But he has only pitched 10 innings over his last two outings. McCullers is 2-1 with a 4.79 ERA in his four starts after opening the season on the disabled list.

Current A's are batting .125 (1x8) against McCullers with a .200 BABIP, 3.20 FIP, 30.0 K%, and a 20.0 BB%.

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