This is a 9* on HOUSTON

Earlier this month, these teams played a three-game series in Oakland. The A’s swept, thereby establishing themselves as the “team to beat” in the AL West this year. They are 18-6 their last 24 games and share the best run differential in the league (+41) with the White Sox. But this weekend is the Astros chance to remind everyone just who has owned this division the last several years. Obviously, with no fans, home field advantage is a little different in 2020. But while the Astros have struggled on the road (5-9), most notably in that series in Oakland, they are 12-5 at home and beating teams by pretty comfortable margins. McCullers starts for them tonight and his numbers are WAY better at home. In three home starts, his ERA and WHIP are 1.93 and 0.80. On the road, those numbers jump to 11.37 and 2.05! He did not face Oakland earlier this month. The A’s have lost the last two times Bassitt has pitched. While 13-4 at home, the A’s are only 9-6 on the road. So maybe home field still matters? So does revenge. Play on HOUSTON

AAA