Oakland can't afford to take any days off. So a focused effort should be forthcoming. The A's have won 71 percent of the time as road chalk the past 58 times. Houston has won just 27 percent of the time when facing a winning opponent at home during the past 91 instances. Oakland is 14-5 during its last 19 visits to Houston.

The price is low, though, because Jason Hammel is on the hill for Oakland. I expect Hammel to tame a cold Astros lineup that has managed only five runs during the last three games while batting .198 during this span. Hammel is a better pitcher than he's shown recently and a tough competitor.

Houston starter Dallas Keuchel is hitting the late-season wall. He's 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in his last four starts. He has to deal with All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson, who is back in the lineup after missing Sunday's game with a knee injury. Donaldson loves Minute Maid Park where he has a career .403 average.