Los Angeles @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( May 8, 2013 ) LA Angels 1, Houston 3

The Houston Astros are the latest team to take advantage of the disappointing Los Angeles Angels. Houston, which came in with six straight losses, can complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Angels on Thursday. The Astros scored seven runs in the first game and got an outstanding pitching performance from Bud Norris in the second, while the Angels struggled in the clutch and lost for the 11th time in 14 games. Chris Carter has homered in two straight contests after going 1-for-14 in his previous five games for Houston.

Josh Hamilton snapped a 20-game streak without a homer Wednesday while Mike Trout and Albert Pujols singled to open the ninth inning. It didn’t matter as the Angels were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Hamilton is batting only .205, Pujols .240 and Trout is 12-for-32 in the last eight games to raise his average to .281.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles), Comcast SportsNet Houston

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Jason Vargas (1-3, 3.72 ERA) vs. Astros RH Lucas Harrell (3-3, 5.03)

Vargas came through with his best performance of the season Friday, tossing a three-hit shutout against Baltimore for his first victory. The left-hander has pitched better than his record indicates, allowing three or fewer runs in four of his six starts. Vargas pitched once against Houston in 2005, giving up three runs in five innings for the loss. Carter is 0-for-10 with five strikeouts against Vargas.

Harrell was pounded in two of his seven starts, allowing eight runs in 4 1/3 innings in both including Saturday against Detroit. In his other five turns, the 27-year-old has been outstanding while limiting opponents to two runs or fewer in each. He has surrendered six homers in 39 1/3 innings – four in his two rough outings. Harrell gave up one run in 5 2/3 innings without getting a decision against the Angels on April 13.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles SS Erick Aybar owns an 11-game hitting streak, the team’s longest of the season.

2. Houston OF Jimmy Paredes has three doubles in eight at-bats in two games since being recalled.

3. Angels pitchers have walked 133 batters, one shy of Toronto’s major-league high.

PREDICTION: Angels 4, Astros 2