Angels at Astros
The Los Angeles Angels continue their emotional road trip when they visit the Houston Astros on Friday for the opener of their three-game series before taking a much-needed break during All-Star Game festivities. The Angels won their first two games at Texas after the shocking death of left-handed pitcher Tyler Skaggs before suffering a 9-3 setback in Thursday’s series finale despite receiving a third homer in two days from Mike Trout, who leads the American League with 25.
Los Angeles slugger Albert Pujols (ankle), who missed the last two games, could return while the status of Justin Upton (quadriceps) is uncertain after he sat out Thursday’s contest. Justin Verlander, who could be the starting pitcher for the AL in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, takes the mound for the Astros in the series opener and needs three strikeouts to pass Jim Bunning (2,855) for 18th place on the all-time list. Verlander looks to help AL West-leading Houston extend its overall winning streak to six games and its run against the Angels to eight contests, with two of those triumphs coming in Mexico in May. Yuli Gurriel has led the way for the Astros of late, going 14-for-33 with six homers and 10 RBIs during his eight-game hitting streak, while Alex Bregman has notched three RBIs and scored four runs in his last three contests.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Noe Ramirez (3-1, 3.16 ERA0 vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (10-3, 2.86)
The Angels will use Ramirez as the "opener" before turning to Felix Pena, who will follow a short-term starter for the fifth straight time. Pena, a 29-year-old right-handed Dominican, is winless in his last two outings after going unbeaten in his previous 13 trips to the mound. Alex Bregman is 2-for-5 with a homer versus Pena, who went 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Houston last year.
Verlander recorded a 2-1 record and 4.02 ERA in six starts last month after giving up four runs on five hits and four walks over five innings in a no-decision versus Seattle. The 36-year-old former AL MVP has permitted at least three runs in five straight starts but has registered 147 strikeouts in 119 2/3 frames and leads the majors with a 0.79 WHIP. Jonathan Lucroy has gone deep three times against Verlander, who beat the Angels on May 5 despite yielding four runs in 6 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels DH Shohei Ohtani has gone 7-for-14 with two homers and two doubles in his last four contests.
2. Houston LF Yordan Alvarez (knee), who was named AL Rookie of the Month for June, is questionable after missing the last two games.
3. Pujols needs one hit to tie Robin Yount (3,142) for 18th place on the all-time list and is one double shy of 650.