The Athletics host Houston at 8:40 p.m. CT in the second game of their final series, with left-hander Jacob Lopez making his 24th and final start against right-hander Hunter Brown. A win would clinch fourth place for Oakland.
The Astros and Rangers remained tied atop the AL West after both won the previous night. Houston was 79-80 and could still finish with a winning or losing record; the article describes winning the division as its remaining path to the playoffs.
Lopez is coming off the worst outing of his career, allowing 10 earned runs in fewer than three innings against Cleveland. Oakland returned Tommy White at first base and batting eighth, with McNeil moving to second and Walton to shortstop. Brown entered his 20th start with Houston’s team-best 3.26 ERA after missing most of the season’s first two months.
