The Houston Astros wrap up their home series against the Athletics on Sunday, August 23, with first pitch set for 2:10 PM ET at Daikin Park. Cristian Javier gets the ball for Houston against lefty Brady Basso, who draws the start for Oakland. With the AL West standings always carrying weight this late in August, a victory here is the kind of series-closing statement the Astros need to close out the homestand on a high note.
Pitching Matchup: Cristian Javier vs. Brady Basso
Cristian Javier has been a familiar name in the Houston rotation for years, a pitcher whose swing-and-miss stuff — built around a lively fastball and a deceptive changeup — gives lineups real problems when he is commanding the zone. The Astros will lean on him to eat innings and keep the Athletics' offense in check through the middle frames.
On the other side, Brady Basso gets the ball for the Athletics. He is a left-handed arm who will look to keep Houston's lineup off balance. The Astros' lineup can be particularly dangerous against left-handed pitching when their right-handed bats are locked in, so Basso will need to mix his pitches and work both sides of the plate to be effective.
Keys to Watch for Houston
- Javier's command: When Javier locates his fastball early in counts, he becomes a completely different pitcher. Watch whether he can establish his heater and then deploy his offspeed stuff to generate whiffs.
- Right-handed bats vs. Basso: Houston's lineup should have a clear advantage against a left-hander. How quickly the Astros' right-handed hitters make Basso work will go a long way toward determining the tone of the game.
- Bullpen depth: A Sunday afternoon game means the Astros will want Javier to push as deep as possible. If the bullpen is taxed from the previous days, managing innings efficiently becomes a priority for the pitching staff.
- First-inning execution: Houston has the lineup to do early damage against a starting pitcher they may not have seen frequently. Getting on the board first changes the dynamic of the entire game.
Broadcast Information
Sunday's game can be seen locally on Space City Home Network, with audio coverage on KBME 790 AM and 94.5 FM HD-2. Spanish-language radio coverage is available on KLTN-TUDN 102.9 FM.
Prediction
This is a winnable game for Houston. The Astros have a rotation piece they trust in Javier, and they are facing a pitcher in Basso who will have to navigate a lineup with legitimate pop in it. If Javier can go six solid innings and the Houston offense does its job against a left-hander early, the Astros close out this homestand with a win. Astros 5, Athletics 2.
