A’s vs. Astros game thread

First game of the season between both squads in what’s been two contrasting narratives thus far

The A’s are 2-5 in their last seven games — all against American League West opponents — and tonight will start another in-division chapter as they take on the Houston Astros for game one of four in Texas.

Good afternoon A’s fans and happy Monday.

The A’s and Astros are meeting for the very first time in the 2024 season so it’s only fitting that Ross Stripling gets the first crack at the two-time reigning World Champs within the past seven years. For as brutal as 2024 has been for Stripling, not one start could ever be worse than his last against the Texas Rangers.

Stripling allowed 10 hits and five earned runs that start while going 1.2 innings in an 15-8 boat race. He’s also ranked 68th across 76 qualified pitchers in ERA at 5.14. The combination of Stripling pitching to the still potent Astros offense should be interesting tonight to say the least.

Here’s how the A’s stack up behind Stripling tonight:

Right off the bat with the Astros, the story of 2024 thus far has to be the deliberate start. They’re just a half game in front of last in the AL West at 15-25 and rank near the worst in baseball in many foreign categories.

For example, one of the biggest stories of the Astros success over the last 5+ years has always been pitching on both a starting and relief side. In 2024, the Astros rank 29th in the MLB in ERA at 4.96, 28th in WHIP at 1.47 and 25th in BAA at .258. The eye-test should back up the numbers too.

Today the Astros will hand the ball to rookie Spencer Arrighetti who’s 0-4 on the season and has surrendered 20 earned runs and 30 hits across 21.1 innings pitched. Arrighetti was tagged for three home runs in his last start against the New York Yankees which resulted in a loss. He still ranks as the teams best pitching prospect, however.

On the offensive side, the Astros pose a lethal threat 24/7. The lineup looks a little different with Jon Singleton getting starting nods at first recently after Jose Abreu was embarrassingly sent down to the minors, but the other usual victims in the lineup like Jeremy Pena, Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker have done their jobs and continued their career success so far this season.

Below is the lineup that Astros manager Joe Espada will roll out. Espada’s name has been swirling with some concerning rumors throughout the Astros organization lately after the disappointing start.

It’s another new week, a new series, and a new opportunity for the A’s to prove themselves to a familiar division foe. Beating the Astros always add a little extra incentive too; especially when each loss they suffer sends them further beneath expectations and beyond frustrations.

We’ll be seeing you soon, AN!