The Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics wrap up their brief two-game series on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Daikin Park, with Houston looking to complete a sweep and continue gaining traction in the American League West while Oakland attempts to halt its downward spiral and salvage something from an increasingly grim road stretch. Houston enters the contest with a 29–25 record and brimming with confidence following an 11–1 rout in the series opener, where they rode a dominant performance from Hunter Brown and a two-homer game from the ever-clutch Jose Altuve to make quick work of the A’s. The Astros have endured a grueling 17-day stretch of consecutive games, finishing it with a strong 10–7 record that has kept them within striking distance of first place in the division despite injuries to key contributors like Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. Players like Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Peña have stepped up offensively, and Houston’s bullpen—anchored by Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu—has remained a weapon in late-game scenarios. The rotation has held up well under pressure, and the return of Lance McCullers Jr. to the mound for Wednesday’s start adds a level of intrigue; though he currently holds a 6.57 ERA after a rough early outing, the Astros are hopeful he can find his rhythm and become a vital cog in the rotation moving forward.

Oakland, meanwhile, comes into the game at 23–32 and sliding rapidly, having lost nine of their last ten games, including being outplayed in nearly every phase during Tuesday’s lopsided loss. What began as a surprisingly promising start to the season has unraveled quickly, with the Athletics’ offense stagnating, the pitching staff faltering, and defensive miscues costing them dearly in tight games. Wednesday’s starter Luis Severino (1–4, 4.11 ERA) has had moments of competence but remains vulnerable to big innings, particularly when his control falters. The A’s have lacked offensive consistency, with only sporadic contributions from young players like Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker, and no sustained production throughout the order to back up an already overburdened pitching staff. Oakland’s bullpen has been one of the more frequently used in the majors this season, and the fatigue is beginning to show, with declining velocity and rising walk rates becoming a concern. For the Athletics to avoid a sweep, they’ll need Severino to keep the ball in the yard, tighten up defensively, and find a way to scrape together timely hits against a Houston staff that hasn’t given up much lately. Statistically, the Astros have been favorites in 32 games this season and won 17 (53.1%), while Oakland has been underdogs in 55 matchups and come out on top just 17 times (30.9%), a clear reflection of the gulf in execution and talent between these two clubs. Wednesday’s game presents Houston with an opportunity to maintain its upward trajectory while offering Oakland a chance to regain a shred of momentum. For the Astros, another win could reinforce their push toward the top of the division, while for the A’s, it’s about pride, grit, and trying to stop the bleeding before the season slips further away.