Houston @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 28, 2016 ) Houston 4, LA Angels 2

The Houston Astros (21-29) are slowly starting to show signs of life and try for their fifth victory in six games when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Houston's roll of late has coincided with manager A.J. Hinch's decision to flip-flop George Springer and Jose Altuve at the top of the lineup as Springer (.274 this season) is 9-for-20 in five games since moving to the leadoff spot, but Altuve (.313) is 3-for-18 during that span.

The Astros' bullpen also is playing a part in the resurgence with a 0.82 ERA over the last 10 games while allowing only 18 hits in 33 innings during that span after recording two scoreless frames in Saturday's 4-2 victory. Los Angeles (22-27) has dropped three of its last four games and is trying to stay afloat despite having nine players on the disabled list, including 60 percent of the rotation and its starting shortstop. Albert Pujols (.220) homered in his last two games but is 2-for-15 in his last four contests after raising his batting average to a season-high .228. Doug Fister is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA in his last five turns — all Houston victories — and opposes former Astro Nick Tropeano, who won his last two starts and has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of nine starts this season.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, ROOT Southwest (Houston), FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Doug Fister (4-3, 4.12 ERA) vs. Angels RH Nick Tropeano (3-2, 2.86)

Fister received a no-decision after yielding two runs (both solo homers), three hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings of Houston's 3-2 victory over Baltimore on Tuesday as his string of quality starts ended at six. The 32-year-old Californian is holding right-handers to a .176 batting average, .275 slugging percentage and .525 OPS this season compared to .304/.548/.908 versus lefties. Mike Trout is 4-for-10 and Pujols 1-for-8 (solo home run) against Fister, who is 2-3 with a 2.86 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in nine starts versus Los Angeles.

Tropeano permitted four hits and struck out six in 6 2/3 innings of a 2-0 victory in Texas on Monday after allowing one run in seven frames of an 8-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 18. ''I just kind of trusted my stuff and just let the defense work,'' the 25-year-old New Yorker told reporters. ''I think in my past, I was trying to be too fine with my pitches.'' Tropeano, a fifth-round pick by the Astros in 2011, received a no-decision after yielding two unearned runs in 4 1/3 innings of the Angels' 6-5 victory in Houston on Sept. 23 in his only appearance against his former team.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pujols tied Honus Wagner for 21st on the all-time RBI list with 1,732 after belting his 571st career home run Saturday. Pujols is two homers shy of tying Harmon Killebrew for 11th place.

2. Astros RHP Will Harris owns the longest active scoreless innings streak in the majors at 21 1/3, which covers his last 21 appearances.

3. Los Angeles closer Huston Street (oblique strain) threw 20 pitches in an extended spring training game Saturday as he nears his return to the Angels.

PREDICTION: Astros 3, Angels 2