Angels at Astros
Yuli Gurriel won't be joining his teammates in Cleveland for the All-Star Game next week as the Houston Astros had a major league-high six players selected, but no hitter on the team has been as locked in at the plate quite like him of late. The Cuban slugger looks to extend his home-run streak to five games on Sunday, when Houston attempts to take the rubber match of its three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Angels.
Gurriel went deep for the eighth time in 10 games during Saturday's 4-0 victory, matching the mark for most homers by an Astro in such a short period of time since 2006 (Morgan Ensberg). The solo blast also extended the 35-year-old's hitting streak to 10 games - a stretch during which he is batting .390 with 14 RBIs and 10 runs in addition to his eight homers. American League West-leading Houston has won six of seven overall and taken three of four in the season series against Los Angeles, which has been outscored 32-10 in those contests. The Angels (45-45), who trail Cleveland by 5 1/2 games for the second AL wild card, can guarantee themselves a third straight winning road trip with a victory in the first-half finale.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Jose Suarez (2-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. Astros RH Jose Urquidy (0-0, 4.91)
Suarez has yet to log a quality start through five major-league outings - the last of which was a no-decision at Texas in which he gave up three runs - two earned - despite registering seven strikeouts over four innings. The 21-year-old has only pitched once at home thus far but is 2-0 despite a 5.75 ERA in four road turns. Suarez, who has surrendered at least one homer in every game and seven in 25 frames, will make his fourth consecutive start away from Angel Stadium as he faces Houston for the first time.
Urquidy had the misfortune of making his major-league debut in Colorado on Tuesday but managed to limit the damage to two runs on six hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old Mexican earned his promotion after going 5-3 with a 3.40 ERA in 15 appearances (13 starts) this year during two minor-league stops, recording 104 strikeouts and issuing 15 walks in 76 2/3 frames. Urquidy is 15-11 with a 3.00 ERA and 321 strikeouts over 297 innings in 63 career minor-league games (50 starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels DH Shohei Ohtani has recorded at least one hit in 12 of his last 13 games and is batting .439 over that span.
2. Houston All-Star OF Michael Brantley, who did not play Saturday due to a sore right hamstring, remains one home run shy of 100 for his career.
3. Los Angeles OF Justin Upton (quadriceps) sat out a third straight game on Saturday and is expected to miss the series finale as well but told reporters he anticipates returning to action after the All-Star break.