The Astros arrive in Oakland at .500, 6-6 and 2.5 games behind the AL West leaders, the Oakland A’s, at 9-4.
Although the Astros are second in MLB in team hitting, with a wRC+ of 125, and the Athletics are rated only 16th, complete disarray in the pitching staff has kept the Astros mired near the .500 mark all of this short season. The Astros currently rely on 10 rookies in their staff, eight relievers and two starters. Thanks to surprising performances by many of them the Astros are still 16th in MLB in team ERA, at 4.