HOUSTON -- Before dropping the series opener against the Houston Astros on Monday night, the Oakland Athletics had caught a glimmer of hope with consecutive series victories over postseason contenders Cleveland and St. Louis.Oakland (57-74) has been besieged by injuries, using the disabled list a club-record 27 times this season. With starters Sonny Gray (strained right forearm) and Jesse Hahn (strained right shoulder) currently on the DL, the Athletics have been forced to fill the void with relievers making spot starts. At this point, the objective is a murky blend of pursuing wins while also evaluating young talent.Thats the tough balance, Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. A team thats in our position, were trying to look at younger players as well as try to keep our veteran guys in the lineup enough to keep them happy too. Its not an enviable position to be in and weve put ourselves in this position with our record. Its a little bit of a delicate balance.Right-hander Kendall Graveman (10-8, 3.97 ERA) will start for the Athletics on Tuesday looking to maintain his streak of exceptional appearances. Graveman is 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts and 9-2 with a 3.33 ERA in his last 16.Graveman is 3-1 with a 4.60 ERA in his career against Houston, including back-to-back starts in July where he allowed four earned runs in 15 innings in two wins.The Astros (69-62) welcomed back a critical cog in the bullpen on Monday night when veteran right-hander Luke Gregerson relieved rookie right-hander Joe Musgrove with one out in the sixth inning and runners on the corners in a 2-0 game.Gregerson made his first appearance in 11 days after being sidelined with a left ankle injury suffered when he stepped on a sprinkler head in Baltimore. Gregerson has served effectively in a setup capacity since losing his job as closer earlier this season, and while the Astros have won eight of 10 games, his steady hand was missed.Against the Athletics, Gregerson did his job with aplomb, inducing Yonder Alonso to hit grounder back to the mound that Gregerson turned into an inning-ending double play.I didnt know when the ideal spot to bring him in was, but I trust him with the ball in his hand as much as anybody, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. I dont care that he hadnt pitched in a couple weeks. He knows how to navigate innings. And that spot, highest leverage, big spot, we needed him to come in.The Astros extended their lead in the bottom half of the inning and were able to complete the win without using right-handers Will Harris and Ken Giles. Both will be available when Houston attempts to claim the series on Tuesday night behind right-hander Collin McHugh (8-10, 5.01 ERA).McHugh is 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA in his career against the Athletics, getting 47 strikeouts in 45 innings and seven starts. He has scuffled against Oakland this season, however, totaling just 11 1/3 innings in two starts with a 5.56 ERA. McHugh did not factor into the decision in either appearance. Wholesale Authentic Jerseys . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. NFL Jerseys 2020 . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. https://www.cheapjerseysfromchinareview.com/ .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Authentic Jerseys 2020 .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Kickoff Week lived up to its epic billing. Two top-10 teams lost, Alabama started its repeat quest with a bang and Florida State and Texas pulled off classics in their prime time games.That caused some big changes in the ESPN College Football Power Rankings.With a llot of neutral-site games, there werent a lot of official visitors, but the big weekend still impressed big-time recruits.dddddddddddd ' ' '