Athletics head into matchup with the Astros on losing streak

Houston Astros (28-21, second in the AL West) vs. Oakland Athletics (10-42, fifth in the AL West)

Oakland, California; Friday, 9:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Hunter Brown (4-1, 3.37 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 56 strikeouts); Athletics: James Kaprielian (0-4, 8.68 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, 30 strikeouts)

: Astros -269, Athletics +219; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Oakland Athletics will try to end their eight-game losing streak when they take on the Houston Astros.

Oakland is 10-42 overall and 5-20 at home. The Athletics have an 8-37 record in games when they have given up a home run.

Houston has a 28-21 record overall and a 14-10 record in road games. The Astros have a 6-3 record in games decided by one run.

The teams meet Friday for the fourth time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan Noda has 10 doubles, a triple, four home runs and 15 RBI for the Athletics. Carlos Perez is 6-for-26 with two home runs over the past 10 games.

Alex Bregman has six doubles, a triple, six home runs and 23 RBI for the Astros. Yordan Alvarez is 12-for-34 with four doubles and three home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Athletics: 1-9, .184 batting average, 5.23 ERA, outscored by 27 runs

Astros: 8-2, .268 batting average, 3.07 ERA, outscored opponents by 15 runs

INJURIES: Athletics: Drew Rucinski: 15-Day IL (illness), Zach Jackson: 15-Day IL (undisclosed), Manny Pina: 60-Day IL (wrist), Mason Miller: 15-Day IL (elbow), Dany Jimenez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Freddy Tarnok: 60-Day IL (undisclosed), Paul Blackburn: 15-Day IL (finger), Kirby Snead: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Astros: Jose Altuve: day-to-day (illness), Luis Garcia: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jose Urquidy: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Michael Brantley: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Lance McCullers Jr.: 15-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.