OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics have a chance to overtake the Houston Astros in the American League West when the division's top two teams go head-to-head in a three-game series that begins Friday night.
Veteran right-handers Charlie Morton of the Astros (74-47) and Edwin Jackson of the A's (72-49) will duel in the opener.
After finishing 26 games behind the Astros last season, the A's found themselves in fourth place, 11 1/2 back, on June 24 before running off 32 wins in 42 games to get within one at the start of play Wednesday.