Los Angeles @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2013 ) Houston 7, LA Angels 5

The Los Angeles Angels are looking at another October on the sidelines, due in part to their inability to take advantage of the weakest team in the American League. The Houston Astros look to clinch the season series when they host the Angels on Friday. Los Angeles is 7-9 against the Astros, who are on pace to lose 107 games.

The Angels are one of only two AL teams against which Houston owns a winning record, and the Astros are coming into the weekend hot after a three-game sweep at Seattle. Los Angeles needs a three-game sweep to take the 19-game season series from Houston and is coming in strong as well after sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays. The Angels (70-76) are trying to finish strong and reach .500.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), CSN (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Jason Vargas (8-6, 3.76 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (5-9, 4.99)

Vargas is winless in his last two starts but had a strong outing against Texas on Sunday, when he allowed two runs on six hits in six innings. The 30-year-old struck out eight against the Rangers and has fanned 23 over 23 1/3 innings in his last four outings. Vargas is 0-1 in two starts against Houston this season, surrendering a total of eight runs and 17 hits in 11 frames.

Keuchel still is looking for his first win since July 27 after being tagged for five runs on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings at Oakland last Friday. The 25-year-old worked seven frames in each of his two previous starts and three of the last five. One of Keuchel’s poor starts in that stretch came at Los Angeles on Aug. 17, when he was reached for four runs on eight hits in four innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels OF Kole Calhoun has 15 RBIs in his last 16 starts.

2. Houston rookie SS Jonathan Villar has scored at least one run in four straight games.

3. Los Angeles OF Mike Trout is batting .335, second in the majors behind Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (.349).

PREDICTION: Angels 6, Astros 2