# Astros' playoff fate hangs on final series

> Houston's postseason hopes rest on a four-game series against Oakland.
- Title: Astros' playoff fate hangs on final series · Mlb | Shortify
- Summary: Houston's postseason hopes rest on a four-game series against Oakland. Astros need a win to secure Wild Card spot after losing to Mariners.
- Keywords: astros, athletics, mlb, wild card, seattle, al west, yordan alvarez, sports, Astros', playoff, fate, hangs
- Source: Mlb — https://mlb.com/news/astros-playoff-hopes-come-down-to-final-series-vs-athletics
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: astros, athletics, mlb, wild card, seattle, al west, yordan alvarez, sports
## Playoff stakes
Houston and Texas both enter final weekend at 78-80 in AL West race.
## Wild card decision
Astros' postseason fate hinges on four-game series against Athletics starting Thursday.
## Pitching matchup
Peter Lambert starts Thursday with a 3.93 ERA in three September starts.
## Injury concerns
Cristian Javier and Brice Matthews injured in last 48 hours, affecting Astros lineup.
## Triple crown chase
Yordan Alvarez leads AL with .316 average and 41 homers, eight shy of 110 RBIs.
## Key pitcher battle
Lambert and Mason Barnett face off in Thursday's opener with both pitching well in recent games.
## Key takeaway

Astros need a win to secure Wild Card spot after losing to Mariners.