OAKLAND -- The A's will be without Mark Canha as they open a crucial four-game series against the first-place Houston Astros on Thursday night at the Coliseum.
Canha banged his left hand against the wall in Wednesday's win over the Giants. The injury is not considered serious, and the A's outfielder will likely be back in the lineup Friday.
Chad Pinder will replace Canha in center field and bat eighth. Robbie Grossman will play left field, with Stephen Piscotty in right.
Meanwhile, Khris Davis returns to the Oakland lineup as the designated hitter after pinch-hitting in each of the last two games in San Francisco. He will bat fifth. Corban Joseph will make his second straight start at second base and hit seventh.
The A's will turn to their ace on the mound, veteran right-hander Mike Fiers. The 34-year-old has won nine straight decisions, allowing three runs or fewer in each of his last 19 outings.
For the season, Fiers is 11-3 with a 3.30 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 25 starts. However, the former Astro is just 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA in six career starts against his old team.
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Houston will counter with 27-year-old Aaron Sanchez. The right-hander struggled in 23 starts with the Blue Jays this season, going just 3-14 with a 6.07 ERA. But since joining the Astros, Sanchez is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA. In six career games against Oakland, he is 1-2 with a 5.12 ERA.
Here are the full lineups for the A's-Astros game, which will be broadcast on NBC Sports California and streaming on the MyTeams app. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. PT, with first pitch at 7:07.
Houston Astros (78-43)
George Springer, CF
José Altuve, 2B
Michael Brantley, LF
Alex Bregman, 3B
Yordan Álvarez, DH
Carlos Correa, SS
Yuli Gurriel, 1B
Robinson Chirinos, C
Josh Reddick, RF
Aaron Sanchez, RHP (5-14, 5.60 ERA)
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Oakland A's (68-52)
Marcus Semien, SS
Robbie Grossman, LF
Matt Chapman, 3B
Matt Olson, 1B
Khris Davis, DH
Stephen Piscotty, RF
Corban Joseph, 2B
Chad Pinder, CF
Chris Herrmann, C
Mike Fiers, RHP (11-3, 3.30 ERA)
