Houston @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2007 ) Houston 4, LA Angels 8

The Los Angeles Angels will try to get back on track when they host the Houston Astros on Friday in the opener of a three-game series in Anaheim. The Angels have lost four straight after they were swept by the Oakland Athletics at home for the first time since 2001. They’ve allowed 35 runs in those four losses. The Astros have won two in a row after losing six straight, putting up 24 runs in those victories after combining for nine runs during the losing streak.

Houston continues to lead the majors in strikeouts but they’ve been making better contact lately, slamming eight home runs in their last two wins. Chris Carter has three round-trippers in the last two games and Marwin Gonzalez has homered in each of the last two. The Angels must be wondering what more they can do to be a World Series contender again. They spent heavily to acquire free-agent Albert Pujols last season and then lured another top-dollar free-agent, Josh Hamilton, this winter, but they’ve now lost seven of their last eight for their worst start through nine games since their inaugural season in 1961.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Houston, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Astros RH Bud Norris (1-1, 3.18 ERA) vs. Angels RH Tommy Hanson (1-0, 4.50 ERA)

Norris has been like night and day when pitching at home versus on the road. He’s 18-15 with a 3.50 ERA at Minute Maid Park, but 11-23 with a 5.39 ERA outside Houston. Those numbers were especially skewed last season when he finished with a 1.71 ERA at home – second only to Justin Verlander of the Tigers among those with 10-plus starts – compared to 6.94 on the road. “I need to go out there and heighten my awareness on the road and just be comfortable in those parks, too,” Norris said. He allowed two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of his last start against the visiting Oakland A’s, but took the loss after they scored three unearned runs in the sixth inning to win 6-3.

Hanson and Norris have something else in common besides facing off in Friday’s series opener. Hanson, Norris and Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers share the Minute Maid Park record of 14 strikeouts in a game. Hanson is 4-0 in six career starts against the Astros with 50 strikeouts and eight walks in 42 innings. Hanson, who grew up about 50 miles east of Anaheim in Redlands, won his only career start at Angel Stadium. He won his season opener this season, too, allowing six hits and three earned runs in six innings of an 8-4 victory Saturday against the host Texas Rangers.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels and Astros are meeting for the first time since 2007.

2. Angels RHP Garrett Richards is scheduled to start Saturday night in place of Jered Weaver, who will be sidelined at least a month with a fractured left elbow.

3. Astros 1B/3B Brett Wallace is 1-for-21 with 17 strikeouts to start the season. He’s 0-for-9 in his career against Hanson with five strikeouts.

PREDICTION: Angels 4, Astros 2