Houston @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Last Meeting ( May 31, 2013 ) Houston 6, LA Angels 3
The Houston Astros matched a season high with their third straight victory in the opener of their four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels. They attempt to extend the winning streak to four games Saturday, when the American League West rivals continue their set at Angel Stadium. Houston, which owns the worst mark in the AL at 18-37, posted a pair of three-run innings and Dallas Keuchel worked seven solid frames in a 6-3 triumph Friday.
The Astros are 8-7 over their last 15 games after losing 30 of their first 40 contests this season, their first in the AL. Houston has captured four of its first seven meetings with Los Angeles, which has lost three of five following an eight-game winning streak. The Angels are 2-1 on their eight-game homestand, which concludes with a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs, while the Astros have won the first three contests of their six-game road trip.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet (Houston), Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Bud Norris (4-4, 3.71 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jerome Williams (4-1, 2.58)
Norris is 0-1 in his last three starts despite allowing a total of two runs in 13 innings over his last two outings, both of which were no-decisions. The 28-year-old's most recent victory came against the Angels on May 8, when he yielded one run in eight frames. Norris also won at Angel Stadium on April 12 as he scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings of a 5-0 triumph.
Williams had a rough time in his first start of the season May 5 but has been strong since, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last four outings during which he is 3-0 with a 2.03 ERA. The 31-year-old limited Kansas City to two runs and seven hits over six innings in a 5-2 victory Sunday. Williams is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four career starts against the Astros but has not faced them since Oct. 1, 2005 while with the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels OF Josh Hamilton went 1-for-4 with a run scored as the DH on Friday. The slugger was kept out of the starting lineup for two games because of back spasms.
2. Houston C Jason Castro hit his seventh home run in the series opener, eclipsing his previous career high set last season.
3. Los Angeles OF Mike Trout scored 27 runs in May, falling one shy of the club record set in 2004 by Vladimir Guerrero.
PREDICTION: Angels 5, Astros 1