Athletics @ Astros

Who will WIN this matchup?

Oakland Athletics (57-43)

@ Houston Astros (64-37)

Starting Pitchers:

Bailey (OAK): 8-6; 4.69 ERA

Cole (HOU) 10-5; 3.12 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Oakland Athletics: 8-2

Houston Astros: 7-3

Current odds:

Oakland Athletics: (+220)

Houston Astros: (-260)

• Michael Brantley and Yuli Gurriel are enjoying torrid stretches at the plate as the Houston Astros carry a five-game winning streak into Monday’s opener of a three-game series versus the visiting Oakland Athletics. Brantley recorded his second straight three-hit performance in Houston’s 5-3 victory over Texas while Gurriel extended his hitting streak to 10 contests.  Brantley and Gurriel have also tormented Oakland, with the former going 10-for-31 in the season series — including the go-ahead RBI single in the 12th inning of the Astros’ 6-4 win on June 2 — while the latter followed with a run-scoring single to improve to 13-for-29 against the Athletics. Jose Altuve has six multi-hit performances in his last eight contests ahead of Monday’s game versus right-hander Homer Bailey, against whom he is 4-for-11 in his career.

• American League West-leading Houston has won seven of eight meetings with Oakland, which fell 6 1/2 games out of first-place after falling for just the fifth time in 21 contests following Sunday’s 7-6 setback to Minnesota. Matt Olson carries a 16-game hitting streak into the series opener versus right-hander Gerrit Cole, against whom he is 0-for-17 with 10 strikeouts.

• Bailey made quite the impression in his first start since being acquired from Kansas City, allowing two runs on seven hits in six innings of a 10-2 win against Seattle. The 33-year-old will look to continue his good fortune versus Houston, against which he owns a 4-0 mark with a 1.46 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in eight career starts. Altuve is 4-for-11 in his career versus Bailey, who has overcome a lukewarm start to the season by heating up over June (3-1, 3.48 ERA) and July (1-0, 3.27).

• Cole has been sizzling hot in his last 10 starts, improving to 6-0 with a 2.11 ERA and 0.98 WHIP after allowing one run on seven hits in as many innings in an 11-2 romp at the Los Angeles Angels. The 28-year-old All-Star recorded his third double-digit strikeout performance in four outings after fanning 11 in that contest to raise his majors-best total to 194 on the season. Cole, who sports a 3-1 mark with a 3.30 ERA in seven career starts versus Oakland, settled for a no-decision against the Athletics on June 2 after surrendering a pair of solo homers among four hits over six innings.

• Oakland CF Ramon Laureano failed to score a run for the first time in 12 contests on Sunday.

• Astros 3B Alex Bregman is 11-for-31 with a homer and eight RBIs against the Athletics this season.

• Oakland 1B Mark Canha, who has hit safely in 11 of his last 14 games, is 4-for-12 versus Houston in 2019.