The rotation fill-ins like Colton Gordon, Ryan Gusto and Brandon Walter have kept Astros afloat. Also, Cam Smith continues to grow.

Smith is "playing his best baseball right now," Joe Espada said. "But for us to maintain that, we have to be careful how much we push him."

Cam Smith hit two of Houston's five home runs and finished with four hits as the Astros routed the Athletics 13-3 to halt their four-game winning streak.