The Houston Astros, with a current record of 5-2, are preparing to face the Oakland Athletics (1-5) in the inaugural match of a three-game series tonight in Sacramento. This highly anticipated encounter sees the Astros striving to extend their winning streak to six consecutive games.
Cristian Javier, the right-handed pitcher for the Astros, is scheduled to make his second start of the season. His previous outing saw him struggle, recording an 11.57 ERA over 4.2 innings, with one strikeout and four walks. Javier returned to the mound last August after undergoing Tommy John surgery, concluding the 2025 season with a 2-4 record, a 4.62 ERA in 37.0 innings, 34 strikeouts, and 15 walks. He will be looking to regain his form and contribute to the Astros' pursuit of victory.
Opposing Javier for the Athletics will be left-hander Jeffrey Springs. This marks the fifth time Springs will face the Astros in his burgeoning career. Historically, Springs has performed well against Houston, boasting a 3-0 record with a 3.55 ERA and ten strikeouts. He enters this game with a 0-0 record and a 3.38 ERA from his first start of the season, aiming to maintain his positive momentum against a formidable Astros lineup.
The rivalry between the Astros and the Athletics has a rich history, with 182 previous matchups. The Astros hold a lifetime advantage of 101-81 over the Athletics. However, the Athletics demonstrated their competitive spirit in the 2025 season, winning eight of the 13 games played against the Astros, indicating that this series could be closely contested.
In a recent roster change, the Astros have placed infielder Isaac Paredes on bereavement leave. To fill his spot on the active roster, Houston has recalled infielder Shay Whitcomb, who will be looking to make an impact in the upcoming games. This adjustment aims to maintain the team's depth and performance.
The game is scheduled for Friday, April 3, at 8:40 p.m. CST, and will be held at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, CA. Fans can catch the action on Space City Home Network2 (TV) or SCHN2 (streaming). Radio coverage will be available on KBME 790 AM, with a Spanish broadcast on TUDN 102.9 FM HD2.
The Astros' lineup features Jeremy Pena at shortstop, Yordan Alvarez as the designated hitter, Jose Altuve at second base, Carlos Correa at third base, Christian Walker at first base, Cam Smith in right field, Jake Meyers in center field, Yainer Diaz as catcher, and Brice Matthews in left field. For the Athletics, the lineup includes Nick Kurtz at first base, Shea Langeliers as catcher, Tyler Soderstrom in left field, Brent Rooker as the designated hitter, Jacob Wilson at shortstop, Lawrence Butler in right field, Max Muncy at third base, Jeff McNeil at second base, and Denzel Clarke in center field.
Tonight's game is a pivotal moment for both teams, with the Astros aiming to continue their strong start and the Athletics looking to bounce back from a challenging opening to their season. The historical rivalry and recent roster changes add an extra layer of intrigue to what promises to be an exciting baseball showdown in Sacramento.
