Game Thread #160: A’s at Astros

The Oakland A’s won’t make the postseason this year, but there are still three games left to play this weekend. That’s three more days of baseball before a long winter!

For their final series of the year, the A’s visit the Houston Astros, who already clinched the AL West division title. Oakland sends Sean Manaea to the mound, capping off a strong campaign for the left-hander — his 3.94 ERA and 3.70 FIP are both better than league-average, and he ranks Top 30 in fWAR among MLB pitchers. His last start also came against the Astros, and he tossed seven excellent innings with eight strikeouts and just one run.

The A’s lineup features a new member, as veteran infielder Pete Kozma was called up today and will start at shortstop. This is Kozma’s first trip to the majors since 2018.

Oakland has faced Houston starter Framber Valdez twice this year. In July they roughed him up for six runs but the Astros won anyway, and then in September he pitched into the 7th and allowed just one run but was outdueled by Manaea in an A’s victory.

A’s lineup (away)

1. 3B Josh Harrison (R)
2. CF Starling Marte (R)
3. 1B Matt Olson (L)
4. RF Chad Pinder (R)
5. LF Mark Canha (R)
6. C Yan Gomes (R)
7. DH Khris Davis (R)
8. 2B Tony Kemp (L)
9. SS Pete Kozma (R)

• LHP Sean Manaea

Day off for Chapman.

Astros lineup (home)

1. RF Jose Siri (R)
2. 1B Aledmys Diaz (R)
3. 3B Alex Bregman (R)
4. LF Yordan Alvarez (L)
5. SS Carlos Correa (R)
6. 2B Marwin Gonzalez (S)
7. DH Chas McCormick (R)
8. CF Jake Meyers (R)
9. C Jason Castros (L)

• LHP Framber Valdez

Let’s go Oakland!

How To Watch

• Date: Friday, October 1
• Time: 5:10 p.m. PT
• TV (local): NBC Sports California
• Radio: 960 AM (more listings here)
• Streaming (watch): NBCS website (with cable sub)
• Streaming (listen): A’s Cast