Barstool Bush
Predictions

Athletics at Houston Astros

By Bush StaffUpdated 78d ago·1 min read
AthleticsATH(30-32)
Houston AstrosHOU(28-36)
1—5
FINAL
123456789RHE
ATH
000001000150
HOU
30200000—560

Jack Perkins (2-2, 5.46) gets the ball for the Athletics opposite Peter Lambert (4-4, 3.77) for first pitch at 7:10 PM CT. Lambert is the steadier name on paper after a 5-inning, 2-ER win over the Brewers last time out, but he doesn't miss bats — 3 strikeouts on 90 pitches — so the A's bats can absolutely get into him if they're picking up spin.

Athletics
Jack Perkins
(2-3)·6.15 ERA
06/05 Lineup
Houston Astros
Peter Lambert
(6-4)·3.23 ERA
May 30 vs Brewers
W
5.0IP
2ER
3K
3BB
90P
06/05 Lineup

Houston is in a weird spot. They sit at 28-36 with a brutal injury list — Altuve, Correa, Diaz, Hunter Brown, McCullers, Javier, Blanco — and just got punched out 5-1 by the Pirates to close that series. The A's, meanwhile, blew a winnable finale in Chicago 7-6 and travel in on a sour note, with Brent Rooker missing Thursday's lineup and listed day-to-day.

Athletics
Athletics
(30-32)
Jun 5L@ Cubs6-7
Jun 4W@ Cubs5-4
Jun 3W@ Cubs2-1
May 31Lvs Yankees8-13
May 31Wvs Yankees6-4
Houston Astros
Houston Astros
(28-36)
Jun 5Lvs Pirates1-5
Jun 4Wvs Pirates11-9
Jun 3Lvs Pirates6-10
May 31Lvs Brewers0-2
May 30Wvs Brewers9-2

The Athletics rotation is held together with tape. Severino is shelved 4-to-6 weeks with a shoulder capsule strain, Civale is just now starting a throwing progression, and Hoglund is done for the year. That's why a guy with a 5.46 ERA is making this start instead of pitching multi-inning relief, which is where Perkins has actually looked sharpest this season.

Athletics
Athletics
(9)
  • Day-To-DayBrent Rooker (DH) — Rooker is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs.06/04
  • Day-To-DayLeo De Vries (SS) — De Vries went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs Sunday for Double-A Midland.05/30
  • 10-Day-ILMax Muncy (3B) — Muncy (hand) will serve as the designated hitter for Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.05/31
  • 10-Day-ILJacob Wilson (SS) — Wilson (shoulder) has been ramping up his baseball activities and could begin a rehab assignment next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.05/31
  • 15-Day-ILAaron Civale (SP) — Civale (shoulder) began a throwing progression Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.06/03
  • 15-Day-ILLuis Severino (SP) — The Athletics announced Tuesday that Severino has been diagnosed with a strain of his right shoulder capsule and subscapularis muscle and will be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.06/03
  • 60-Day-ILBrooks Kriske (RP) — Kriske (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for at least three weeks, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.06/02
  • 60-Day-ILDenzel Clarke (CF) — Clarke (hamstring) will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.05/27
  • 60-Day-ILGunnar Hoglund (SP) — Hoglund (knee/back) will be sidelined for the rest of the 2026 season after undergoing surgery on his left hip Monday.05/20
Houston Astros
Houston Astros
(12)
  • Day-To-DayWalker Janek (C) — Double-A Corpus Christi placed Janek on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.05/08
  • 10-Day-ILYainer Diaz (C) — Diaz (oblique) has been hitting, throwing and catching bullpen sessions during workouts this week and is close to heading out on a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.06/04
  • 10-Day-ILJose Altuve (2B) — Altuve (oblique) is slated to take live batting practice Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.06/03
  • 10-Day-ILBraden Shewmake (SS) — Shewmake (groin) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.06/02
  • 15-Day-ILBennett Sousa (RP) — The Astros announced Friday that Sousa (elbow) has begun a throwing progression, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.06/04
  • 15-Day-ILLance McCullers Jr. (SP) — The Astros announced Friday that McCullers (shoulder) began a throwing progression, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.06/04
  • 60-Day-ILBrandon Walter (SP) — The Astros announced Friday that Walter (elbow) is in the midst of a throwing progression at the team's complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.06/04
  • 60-Day-ILCristian Javier (SP) — Javier (shoulder) recorded two outs -- both via strikeout -- and was charged with two earned runs on two hits and two walks in a rehab start Wednesday with Double-A Corpus Christi.06/04
  • 60-Day-ILCarlos Correa (SS) — Correa is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday in Houston to repair the tendon in his left ankle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.06/02
  • 60-Day-ILHunter Brown (SP) — Brown (shoulder) will make his next rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.06/02
  • 60-Day-ILHayden Wesneski (SP) — Wesneski (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/29
  • 60-Day-ILRonel Blanco (SP) — Blanco (elbow) has progressed to throwing live batting practice this week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.05/29

The angle to watch is Houston's bullpen workload. They blew a 5-run lead earlier this week before bailing themselves out 11-9, then went quiet offensively on Thursday. Lambert isn't a length guy, so if the A's chase him by the 5th, this becomes a battle of two depleted pens — and that usually means runs. Take the over feeling if you're squinting at a board with no posted total.

Bottom line: this is two sub-.500 clubs trying to stop bleeding. The Astros are the more talented roster when healthy. They are not healthy. Lean into the chaos.

Sources

MLBAthleticsHouston AstrosPolymarketKalshiJack PerkinsPeter Lambert