Part of why Houston struggled against the Athletics is health, as shortstop Jeremy Peña (rib) and third baseman Isaac Paredes (hamstring) are both on the 10-day IL. Peña leads the team with a .322 batting average, which also ranks third in baseball. Meanwhile, Paredes tops the squad with 19 homers.

Jose Altuve is a veteran of 15 Major League seasons. Cam Smith is a rookie in his first. But both understand that a 162-game schedule will bring ups and downs.

After going 4-2 on the road after the All-Star break, the Astros have lost three in a row at home to the last-place A's.

Riley Adams hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh inning to lift the Washington Nationals to a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros on Monday night. The game was tied 1-all with two outs in the seventh when Adams connected off Bryan King (3-2) on his 348-foot shot to the seats in right field to put Washington on top.

After coming off a brutal loss to the Athletics, the Houston Astros have seen their edge in the American League West start to get narrower. It has been a fanta