Game No. 152 Preview: Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics

Houston Astros (80-71) vs. Oakland Athletics (66-85), September 21, 2016, 2:35 p.m.

TV: Root Sports SW
Radio: KBME 790 AM, La Nueva 94.1 FM
Online: MLB.TV
Athletics SBNation Blog: Athletics Nation

Pitching Matchup

RHP Collin McHugh (11-10, 4.66 ERA, 1.45 WHIP) vs. RHP Daniel Mengden (2-7, 5.68 ERA, 1.55 WHIP)

Preview

The have to play the schedule set before them each season. The Astros have eight games remaining against the worst team in the American League West (1 game against the A’s and 7 games with the Angels).

Houston will need every one of those games to make the playoffs as the Astros is in striking distance of the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Tigers in the standing.

Astros look to sweep the Oakland with Collin McHugh on the mound. McHugh is 2-0 with a 3.31 ERA in three September starts -- he is coming off a seven innings of scoreless baseball against the Mariners.

McHugh is 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in three starts against the A’s in 2016. Current A’s are batting .274 (23x84) against McHugh with a .368 BABIP, 2.90 FIP, 27.8 K%, and a 6.7 BB%.

Daniel Mengden, former Astros draft pick, has been the major league grinder in his rookie season. Mengden is 1-2 with a 5.52 ERA in three Sept. starts.

Mendgen is 0-1 with an 8.38 ERA in two starts against his former team. Current Astros are batting .344 (11x32) against Mengden with a .435 BABIP, 5.77 FIP, 19.5 K%, and a 17.1 BB%.