Series Preview: Athletics (of Las Vegas by 2027 by way of Sacramento) @ Houston Astros

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images

Back at the Icebox after a 4-2 road trip, including a 3-game sweep of the Diamondbacks, and upping their division lead to 6.0 games, Houston opens a 7-game homestand, starting with a 4-game set against the A’s.

Athletics’ Standings:

• 42-62 (5th in the AL West) 19.0 GB, 13.0 GB for final AL Wild Card
• Road Record: 22-31 (Astros: 33-19 Record)
• Record vs. AL West: 10-20 (Astros vs AL West: 15-11)
• Last 10: 4-6 [WLWWLWLLLL] (HOU: 5-5 [LLWLLLWWWW])
• 2025 Record vs. Houston: 2-4 (Lost 2-game series (0-2) @ HOU May 27-28, Split 4-game series @ A’s 2-2 June 16-19)
• All-Time Record vs. Houston: 98-119
• Playoff Record: 1-3 (2020 ALDS)

Athletics’ Season to Date: To think there was a time when the A’s could dream of being in contention for the playoffs, if not the AL West. Ah, the glory days, aka the early part of the season. They once sat at 20-17. Since then...how does 22-45 sound? All of that money

that Fisher actually spent has yielded...practically nothing. Still waiting for their future new home to get built, the A’s continue their vagabond existence, playing in a lower-caliber minor league stadium, and having trouble filling that with cheering fans (unless you are the road team). This coming week, the A’s will likely be busier off the field, wheeling and dealing once again to help lower labor costs and increase John Fisher’s profit margin stock up on young prospects.

Athletics Leaders

Offense:

• HR: DH Brent Rooker (21)
• RBI: LF Tyler Soderstrom (57)
• BA: SS Jacob Wilson (.314)
• OPS: DH Brent Rooker (.852)

Pitching:

• ERA: Jeffery Springs (4.18)
• Wins: Jeffery Springs (8)
• Saves: Mason Miller (19)
• WHIP: Jeffery Springs (1.22)

Projected Pitching Matchups (SUBJECT TO CHANGE, ESPECIALLY AS THIS IS THE WEEKEND BEFORE THE TRADE DEADLINE)

• Thursday, July 24 @7:10 p.m. CDT: Luis Severino (3-11, 5.10 ERA) vs. Jason Alexander (1-0, 8.40 ERA) [Out-of-market coverage on MLBN; Regional Coverage on SCHN; Radio: KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2, TUDN 93.3 FM]
• Friday, July 25 @ 7:10 p.m. CDT: Jeffery Springs (8-7, 4.18 ERA) vs. TBD [Watch on SCHN; Radio: KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2, TUDN 93.3 FM]
• Saturday, July 26 @ 6:10 p.m. CDT: Jacob Lopez (3-6, 4.60 ERA) vs. Hunter Brown (9-4, 2.57 ERA) [Watch on SCHN; Radio: KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2, TUDN 93.3 FM]
• Sunday, July 27 @ 1:10 p.m. CDT: J.T. Jinn (1-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Framber Valdez (11-4, 2.67 ERA) [Watch on SCHN; Radio: KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2, TUDN 93.3 FM]

Athletics Field Position Starters (SUBJECT TO CHANGE, ESPECIALLY AS THIS IS THE WEEKEND BEFORE THE TRADE DEADLINE)

• C Shea Langerliers
• 1B: Nick Kurtz
• 2B: Luis Urias
• 3B: Max Schuemann
• SS: Jacob Wilson
• LF: Tyler Soderstrom
• CF: Colby Thomas
• RF: Lawrence Butler
• DH: Brent Rooker

Athletics Offense: For a team whose season long since went off the rails, the offense is not all that horrid. They rate as middle of the pack in many hitting categories: 17^th in runs scored, 15^th in BA, 18^th in OBP. They actually have a better slugging percentage than Houston, ranking 6^th (.421) vs. 11^th (.410). So, if they can get hits, they make them count. The A’s possess a few decent young bats that could amount to something, even if that is only in the future. They are getting decent production from SS Jacob Wilson, 1B Nick Kurtz, DH Jacob Rooker and LF Tyler Soderstrom. Perhaps those guys aren’t likely to get shipped out. More likely, the rentals like Urias are set to go, if the offer is right. Yet, for all of that young talent, they aren’t particular fast on the bases, rating only 21st in stolen bags (57).

Athletics Pitching/Defense: They are firmly entrenched in the bottom tier of most pitching stats (28th in ERA and WHIP and 27^th in BAA allowed). This includes the making sure to take on just enough salary to avoid a MLBPA grievance big free agent signee Luis Severino, which is not paying off (except for Severino’s bank account). The high ERA also takes into account perhaps the A’s best player/trade chip, closer Mason Miller, who, after a slow start, is back to being a living terror in the late innings of games. The rest of the bullpen is not helping out, as they have the 21^st ranked ‘pen in the majors. Despite the poor numbers, the A’s appear poised to send out arms such as Jeffery Springs and JP Sears (and possibly Severino), and other teams may actually want them. Who replaces those guys? Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh...As for fielding, they rate only 26^th in that department, which, along with committing the 4th most errors in MLB, doesn’t help the pitching staff.

Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images

Most Dangerous Player: P Mason Miller. Perhaps a bit of cheating, and for all we know, he won’t be on the team for the entire series. However, when it’s the “Reaper” vs. Houston, put your money on Miller. In 8 games and 10.1 innings against the Astros, Miller has allowed three hits, two BBs and one, count it, ONE total run (earned)…and that came in his last outing against Houston. Miller has fanned 14 Astros in his appearances. As a closer, he would usually only face a team if the A’s were in the lead or tied, so there is a built-in advantage. Still, hard to find a pitcher who’s been that dominant against Houston. This season, Miller got off to a slowish start, and while his ERA is still over 4.00, he is reverting to his dominant form.

Injuries: The Astros have 17 players on IL, which leads the league. The A’s have some (but not as many) players on paid sick leave:

• 3B Max Muncy (Hand); 10-Day IL; Return TBD [fractured July 22]
• CF Denzel Clark (Abductor); 10-Day IL; Projected Return: Late August [injured July 21]
• P Brady Brasso (Shoulder): 60-Day IL; Projected Return: August
• P Grant Holman (Shoulder): 60-Day IL; Projected Return: TBD
• P Gunnar Hoglund (Hip): 60-Day IL; Projected Return: 2026
• P Jose Leclerc (Lat): 60-Day IL; Projected Return: Late 2025
• P Luis Medina (Elbow): 60-Day IL; Projected Return: Late 2025

Intangibles/Vibes: What can the mindset be for a team that is going to be playing effectively all road games until 2027? Sure, they got off to a decent start, but those good vibes are long dead. Fisher, doesn’t seem content to stock up the main roster, and until he gets his dream palace in Vegas, why would he? As for the players, several will be keeping one eye on social media/waiver wires to figure out if they need to fill out change-of-address forms. That doesn’t make it easy to focus on winning in the field.

Series Outlook: On the surface, the Astros should relish the chance for four games at home against the A’s. Yet, there are questions about how Espada will scramble to fill out the starting rotation and batting order (and why the Houston med staff still has jobs, but anyway...). Also, there is the wild card of the trade deadline, and the possible attrition from the main roster to make that happen. Yet, the A’s aren’t exactly bringing any positive momentum and half the team (or more) could get shipped out. Still, the A’s won’t simply roll over to help their draft pick, even if Fisher wouldn’t mind that turn of events.

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