The Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics faced off in an exciting matchup on Tuesday night, with the spotlight on the first base position. The A’s emerged victorious with a 4-0 win over the Astros, thanks to their strong hitting with runners in scoring position.
One of the major storylines of the game was the return of former Oakland utility infielder Aledmys Diaz to the Astros. Diaz was promoted to the Astros’ starting lineup just nine days after signing a minor league contract, looking to provide some additional power from the right side of the plate. Despite going 0-for-3 with a strikeout in the game, Diaz expressed his excitement about rejoining the Astros, with whom he won a World Series championship in 2022.
The Astros made the move to bring Diaz back in part because their regular first baseman, Jon Singleton, has struggled against left-handed pitchers this season. Singleton pinch-hit for Diaz in the ninth inning but was unable to make an impact.
On the other side, the A’s added to their depth at first base with the selection of Nick Kurtz in the draft. Kurtz signed with the team on Monday and impressed with a powerful batting practice session, hitting a second-decker during the warm-up.
Oakland’s first basemen have struggled at the plate this season, hitting just .199 collectively. Converted outfielder Seth Brown filled in for the injured Tyler Soderstrom in the series opener but was unable to make an impact.
Looking ahead, the A’s are set to play their home games in Sacramento next season before moving to Las Vegas in 2028. Several players from the 2023 draft class have already made their way to the majors, including rookie right-hander Jake Bloss, who is scheduled to start for the Astros on Tuesday.
Bloss, 23, will be making his third big-league start against the Athletics, looking to secure his first win. On the other side, the A’s will send Osvaldo Bido to the mound, who has been effective out of the bullpen this season.
Overall, the matchup between the Astros and the Athletics promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to make an impact in the competitive AL West division.
