The Houston Astros came back home to Minute Maid Park in a very good place. After winning six of seven road games against the Oakland A’s and the Seattle Mariners, the Astros still have the best record in all of baseball at 52-25. More importantly, they have increased their lead in the American League West to 12.5 games.
Now, after sweeping them in four games just a week ago, the Astros will face the A’s in a three-game series to begin a six-game homestand that finishes with a weekend series against the New York Yankees. The A’s are in last place in the AL West with a 34-42 record, third worst in the AL behind the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers, and are 17.