The Houston Astros keep saying they have to win their next game, but they are starting to run out of opportunities.

In fact, they remain in the American League wild-card chase only because the Detroit Tigers are playing even worse baseball.

Houston looks to break an untimely five-game losing streak when it closes a three-game series against the Athletics on Thursday afternoon in West Sacramento, Calif.

The Astros (84-74) have been outscored 11-1 in the first two games of the series and have dropped seven straight games against the A's.

"You never want to have this funk this late in the season when games matter so much," Houston infielder Carlos Correa said.

The Astros were eliminated from the AL West chase Wednesday night when the Seattle Mariners defeated the Colorado Rockies.

That

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