The Houston Astros keep saying they have to win their next game, but they are starting to run out of opportunities.
In fact, they remain in the American League wild-card chase only because the Detroit Tigers are playing even worse baseball.
Houston looks to break an untimely five-game losing streak when it closes a three-game series against the Athletics on Thursday afternoon in West Sacramento, Calif.
The Astros (84-74) have been outscored 11-1 in the first two games of the series and have dropped seven straight games against the A’s.
“You never want to have this funk this late in the season when games matter so much,” Houston infielder Carlos Correa said.
The Astros were eliminated from the AL West chase Wednesday night when the Seattle Mariners defeated the Colorado Rockies.
That leaves the wild card as the only path into the postseason. And the Tigers (85-73) have helped keep Houston alive by losing their past eight games.
Still, Detroit holds the tiebreaker edge by virtue of going 4-2 against the Astros this season. That means Houston has to win two more games than the Tigers over the final four games to keep from missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
“We’re going to fight until the end,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We’re not going to quit. We’re still in this race.”
Houston stood 20 games over .500 after completing a three-game road sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 6. The Astros outscored Los Angeles 29-6 in the series, leaving Houston with a seven-game lead in the AL West.
The Astros followed by losing five of their last six before the All-Star break and the first two after play resumed to set the tone for the collapse.
Yet Houston was back on the upward swing when it won five of six games to move into first place by a half-game on Sept. 17.
Then the Mariners came to town last weekend and swept a three-game set from Houston. Seattle hasn’t lost since, and the Astros haven’t won since.
“It hasn’t been our best baseball,” Correa said. “I’m sure our fans are frustrated. We are very frustrated with the way we’re playing.”
The Athletics (75-83) have been a huge thorn in the side of the Astros by winning eight of 12 matchups entering the finale of the season series.
In the seven straight wins over Houston, the A’s have pummeled the Astros by a cumulative 49-12 score.
In the Athletics’ 6-0 victory on Wednesday, Shea Langeliers went 4-for-4 with a homer and Tyler Soderstrom also went deep.
“Wins in the division are hard to come by, and we cherish all of them,” Langeliers said after hitting his 31st homer. “They’re a really good baseball team, and we’re playing good ball right now.”
Framber Valdez (12-11, 3.75 ERA) will attempt to end Houston’s skid on Thursday. However, the left-hander is 0-4 with an 8.27 ERA over his past four starts and has dropped seven of his past eight decisions.
Valdez, 31, gave up five runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings while losing to Seattle on Saturday.
He won his lone start against the Athletics this season, allowing two runs and five hits over six innings on June 18. Overall, he is 7-4 with a 2.66 ERA in 16 appearances (14 starts) against the A’s.
Langeliers (5-for-19, .263) and Brent Rooker (3-for-20, .150) have each homered off Valdez.
Right-hander J.T. Ginn (4-6, 4.57) will look to win his third straight decision for the Athletics.
Ginn, 26, gave up two runs and five hits over six innings while beating the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 18.
Ginn blanked Houston on three hits over six innings for a victory on July 27. He has a 1.69 ERA against Houston in three career appearances (one start), all this year.
Jose Altuve is hitless in five at-bats against Ginn.
–Field Level Media
