Angels at Astros
The Houston Astros continue their march toward the postseason when they try for a three-game sweep of the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. First-place Houston (84-47), which has an 8 1/2-game lead on Oakland in the American League West, is tied with the New York Yankees for the best record in the AL and owns the top mark in franchise history after 131 games following Saturday's 5-2 victory that gave it five wins in six games and showcased a pair of hot hitters.
Michael Brantley is riding a 17-game hitting streak during which he is batting .457 with three home runs, 17 RBIs and 10 doubles after belting a two-run shot for the Astros on Saturday and leads baseball with a .337 average. Alex Bregman has reached base safely in 18 straight games after belting a three-run homer - his career-high 32nd - and is batting .403 with five blasts and 24 RBIs during the streak. Los Angeles has lost four straight, falling to 1-5 on its seven-game road trip, and has dropped nine of its last 10 contests at Minute Maid Park. The Astros' Framber Valdez on Sunday faces Los Angeles for the second straight major-league start as he opposes Jaime Barria, who pitches against the Astros for the first time this season.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jaime Barria (4-6, 6.35 ERA) vs. Astros LH Framber Valdez (3-6, 5.58)
Barria returned from a brief stint at Triple-A Salt Lake to start the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader in Texas, settling for a no-decision after allowing two runs and five hits in five innings of a 3-2 loss. The 23-year-old Panamanian stays in the rotation after Griffin Canning was lost for the season because of elbow inflammation. Barria faced Houston four times as a rookie, going 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA while handling George Springer (1-for-8) and Bregman (2-for-9) but struggling against Jose Altuve (4-for-9).
Valdez has lost four straight major-league starts - the last coming on July 15, when he allowed seven runs - four earned - and four walks in four innings of a 9-6 road loss to the Angels. The 25-year-old Dominican has since been with Triple-A Round Rock, going 4-1 with a 3.82 ERA in five starts before being recalled. Valdez is 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA in four career games (two starts) against Los Angeles.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels 1B Albert Pujols has hit 59 home runs against Houston - the most by any player, with Hank Aaron ranking second with 46.
2. Houston is a major league-best 48-16 at home and on pace to break the club-best mark of 55-26 set in 1980 and matched in 1998.
3. Los Angeles CF Mike Trout's 42 home runs this season and 282 for his career are second-most in club history, trailing Troy Glaus (47 in 2000) and Tim Salmon (299), respectively.