The Houston Astros open their Friday night home date against the Athletics at Daikin Park, with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM ET. Hayden Wesneski takes the ball for Houston against right-hander J.T. Ginn. The Astros send out a lineup anchored by Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Isaac Paredes against an Athletics club that features Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler in the heart of their order. It is a regular-season contest with division positioning on the line, and Houston will look to use the home setting to its advantage.

Starting Pitchers: Wesneski vs. Ginn

Hayden Wesneski draws the start for the Astros. The right-hander has been a part of the Houston rotation and will need to limit a lineup that, while not star-studded, does have some dangerous bats. J.T. Ginn gets the nod for Oakland. The young right-hander is still working to establish himself at the big-league level, and this is a spot start situation that Houston's offense should be motivated to attack early and often.

Houston Astros Starting Lineup

• Jose Altuve, 2B
• Yordan Alvarez, LF
• Isaac Paredes, DH
• Daulton Varsho, CF
• Christian Walker, 1B
• Yainer Diaz, C
• Cam Smith, RF
• Raynel Delgado, 3B
• Nick Allen, SS

Athletics Starting Lineup

• Henry Bolte, CF
• Jeff McNeil, 2B
• Zack Gelof, 3B
• Carlos Cortes, LF
• Lawrence Butler, RF
• Tommy White, 1B
• Jonah Heim, C
• Donovan Walton, SS
• Max Muncy, DH

Keys to Watch Friday Night

Yordan Alvarez Setting the Tone

Batting second in the order, Alvarez is the most dangerous hitter on either side of this matchup. If Ginn cannot locate his pitches early, Alvarez will make him pay. Houston's offense tends to flow through him, and a strong performance from the big left-hander could open the floodgates for the rest of the lineup behind him.

Wesneski's Command Against a Contact-Oriented Oakland Lineup

The Athletics do not overwhelm you with power, but Jeff McNeil and Zack Gelof are capable of putting together quality at-bats and working counts. Wesneski will need to stay ahead in the count and avoid letting Oakland hitters extend rallies. Clean, efficient innings early will be the standard for keeping this game comfortable.

Bottom of the Order Production

The Astros lineup slots seven through nine — Cam Smith, Raynel Delgado, and Nick Allen — represent an opportunity to turn the lineup over and keep pressure on Oakland's pitching. Runs that come from the bottom of the order change the entire complexion of a game and keep Altuve and Alvarez coming up with runners on base.

Prediction

This is a favorable matchup on paper for Houston. Wesneski squares off against a relatively inexperienced starter in Ginn, and the Astros lineup has enough firepower from top to bottom to generate a multi-run offensive output. Look for the Astros to get to Ginn before the fifth inning and hand Wesneski a lead to work with. Astros win, 5-2.

Catch the game on Space City Home Network or KBME 790 AM/94.5 FM HD-2. First pitch is at 8:10 PM ET from Daikin Park.