The A’s enter the final three weeks of the season Monday, and the most important games of the entire stretch just might be the next five.
The Astros arrive at the Coliseum for a lengthy series that could cement the A’s lead in the AL West — or that could alter the standings significantly. With Oakland’s 5-3 loss to the Padres on Sunday, the A’s hold a 3 ½-game lead in the division, with Houston having been swept in a four-game series against the Angels.
“It’s a key series, and every time we play them as the season goes along, it’s more and more important — especially since it’s the last time we play them this year,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said Sunday.
The Astros are without third baseman Alex Bregman (hamstring) and second baseman Jose Altuve (knee), and on Sunday, starter Lance McCullers Jr. went on the injured list with neck nerve irritation. Starter Justin Verlander is out with an arm injury, possibly for the season.
“You look around, everybody has some injuries,” Melvin said. “One thing about them is they have a terrific lineup, whether they have some guys out or not. Bregman out, Altuve out a little bit, but still it’s a tough lineup to navigate around and they have some key pieces, some guys that really contributed last year. ... Just a good team that has some injuries and still is a very good team no matter what.”
The A’s are dealing with their own injury situation. Shortstop Marcus Semien, who finished third in the MVP voting last year behind Mike Trout and Bregman, has missed the team’s past four games with left side soreness but is expected to return during the Houston series. Platinum Glove third baseman Matt Chapman left Sunday’s game with a right hip strain.
Neither team is playing lights out. The A’s have dropped four of their past five games, including an Aug. 29 doubleheader at Houston, and the Astros have lost four straight.
“We know them. We’ve played them this year,” A’s outfielder Robbie Grossman said. “I’m ready for this series. We’re ready for this series. Every game from here on out is important.”
Susan Slusser is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sslusser@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susanslusser
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A’s, Astros set for important five-game series at Coliseum — both teams banged up - San Francisco Chronicle
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