The Oakland Athletics look to complete a road sweep over the division-leading Houston Astros this morning at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The Astros are 77-68 and hold a 3.5 game lead over Seattle in the American League West. They’ve dropped three in a row, two to our A’s.
Mark Kotsay will send 26-year-old righty Mitch Spence to the mound today. Spence is 7-9 with a 4.42 ERA in 31 games this season. He has only made one appearance against the Astros, in relief back in May. He’ll go up against 30-year-old lefty Framber Valdez.