Game No. 78 Preview: Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics

Houston Astros (52-25) vs. Oakland Athletics (34-42), June 27, 2017, 7:10 p.m. CT

TV: ROOT SPORTS Southwest
Radio: KBME 790 AM, La Nueva 94.1 FM
Online: MLB.TV
Athletics SBNation Blog: Athletics Nation

Pitching Matchup

RHP Mike Fiers (5-2, 3.81 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (6-4, 4.05 ERA, 1.15 WHIP)

Preview

After three games in Seattle, the Houston Astros will once again face the Oakland Athletics after sweeping the A’s last week in a four-game series.

In game one, the Astros (52-25) will send out RHP Mike Fiers to the mound.

Fiers turned his season around after going 1-2 with a 5.21 in his first nine starts and allowing a league-high 18 home runs. Fiers is 4-0 with a 1.72 ERA in his last five starts.

Leistomania409 broke down the turnaround of Fiers over his last few starts:

There’s a lot more that could go here about Fiers’ recent turnaround. He chucked his slider which was also getting hit a ton and not generating a ton of whiffs in the first place for his curveball, which he’s had tons of success with in the past month. Brent Strom also deserves a ton of credit - he’s recognized as a top pitching coach in the game, but what he’s done with a patchwork rotation of guys who were about to be demoted or released two months ago and a bunch of rookies has been savant-level stuff.

Fiers last outing was in Oakland, He allowed one run on three hits over six innings in a win. Fiers struck out five and walked three. Fiers has been even better at home this season, he is 1-2 with a 2.68 ERA in six starts.

Fiers is 1-2 with a 3.89 ERA in seven career starts against the A’s. Four current A’s have more than 10 at-bats against Fiers: Yonder Alonso (6x12), Khris Davis (2x11), Jed Lowrie (1x10), Marcus Semien (2x11). Alonso has the only success with two doubles and three RBIs. Lowrie had a solo home run against Fiers.

LHP Sean Manaea faces the Astros for the second straight outing, he allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings on June 21 in Oakland. Manaea picked up his second career loss against Houston in six starts. Overall, he’s had plenty of success against the Astros. He is 0-2 with a 2.23 ERA and a 1.082 WHIP.

Evan Gattis had the only two extra-base hits against Manaea among active Astros. He is batting .267 (4x15) with a double and a home run. Carlos Correa has struggled against Manaea, batting .154 (2x13) with five strikeouts and four walks. Jake Marisnick (1x9) and George Springer (3x14) each have five strikeouts as well.