The Houston Astros are a season-best 11 games over .500 after stringing together five straight victories but an unexpected rotation shakeup on Monday presents a new challenge.

On the flip side, the Houston Astros, who swept the A's in a quick two-game series at the end of May, are entering this series in West Sacramento at 41-30, 4.5 games up in the AL West, and 13 games above the A's. They're also on a five-game win streak and have won eight of their last ten.

With the winning run at third base and two outs in the ninth inning Saturday afternoon, the Twins had a strategy visit at the mound with closer Jhoan Duran. That allowed Astros rookie Cam Smith, who was due up next,

The M’s on Friday got a strong start from Luis Castillo, three scoreless innings from the bullpen and the offense pounded out 16 hits on its way to seven runs. Then on Sunday it was seven shutout innings from Emerson Hancock, two easy innings from the bullpen and six runs from the offense.

The Houston Astros are a season-best 11 games over .500 after stringing together five straight victories. The last two were of the walk-off variety for Houston, which will look to continue the momentum when it opens a four-game series against the Athletics on Monday night at West Sacramento,