Houston @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2013 ) Houston 5, Oakland 7

The Oakland Athletics are alone in first place for the first time in a month as they continue a four-game series with the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday. After dropping the series opener to the lowly Astros on Thursday and falling out of a first-place tie with Texas in the American League West, the Athletics posted a 7-5 triumph on Friday. Coupled with the Rangers' loss to the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland grabbed a half-game advantage atop the division.

The Athletics have won nine of 12 overall and are 13-4 against Houston, which missed out on an opportunity to record its first three-game winning streak since mid-June. The Astros are 6-9 during a stretch that sees them play 20 games in 20 days. They give the ball Saturday to standout rookie Brett Oberholtzer, whose 1.98 ERA since July 31 leads the AL.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Houston), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Brett Oberholtzer (4-1, 2.79 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Dan Straily (8-7, 4.38)

Oberholtzer authored the only complete-game shutout of the season for the Astros on Sunday in Seattle. He yielded just four hits and struck out five in recording his third scoreless start since joining the rotation just over a month ago. Oberholtzer has given up eight runs - seven earned - in 11 1/3 frames over his last two road outings.

Straily is 2-5 with a 4.56 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break but got the victory his last time out, allowing two runs in five innings against Texas on Monday. The 24-year-old, who leads AL rookies in starts (23), strikeouts (102) and innings pitched (127 1/3), has a 4.74 ERA in 14 career outings at home. Straily struck out a career-high 11 in his only start against Houston on April 5.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros C Jason Castro returned as the designated hitter Friday, his first action since leaving Monday's contest at Minnesota with a right knee injury.

2. Athletics closer RHP Grant Balfour has given up six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings over his last five appearances.

3. Oakland CF Coco Crisp is 12-for-37 with four homers, three doubles and a triple during his nine-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Athletics 4, Astros 3