Astros manager Dusty Baker said Sunday he’s “hoping” All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman will be ready to be activated prior to a five-game series against the first-place A’s in Oakland, which begins Monday.

Bregman, who strained the hamstring running the bases on Aug. 19 in Colorado, is on the taxi squad and has been working out with the club the last few days in Anaheim. Entering Sunday, the Astros were 7-8 in the 15 games since Bregman got injured.

“He’s a guy that we definitely have to take [time with] if there’s any doubt,” Baker said. “If not, he’ll be in and out of the lineup one day on and one day off, and it’s hard to get any rhythm and timing. When I do put him in the lineup, do I put him in the middle of the fire like he’s used to and not being sharp? You don’t want to put him in front of guys [when] he may have to run the bases a lot. You try to put him in a [favorable] situation until his leg shows us he will be in more of a position to drive in runs and score. I’m hoping he’s ready for Oakland.”

Bregman strained his right hamstring last April and missed two games. In September 2016 -- at the end of his rookie year -- he missed two weeks after straining his hamstring running the bases.

Bregman was hitting .272 with four homers and 14 RBIs this year and was riding a nine-game hitting streak following his double on Aug. 19 in Colorado. He has reached base in 40 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the Major Leagues.