Los Angeles @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2013 ) LA Angels 6, Houston 2

The Los Angeles Angels may be suffering through a disappointing season, but they are not giving up down the stretch. The Angels attempt to pick up their 17th win in 23 games when they visit the Houston Astros on Sunday for the rubber match of their three-game set. Houston, which already clinched the season series with a win in Friday’s opener, is one of the reasons Los Angeles is not in the middle of the playoff race.

The Angels are 8-10 against the major league-worst Astros and sit six games below .500 with 14 remaining on the schedule. Los Angeles’ hot streak came just in time for it to have an impact on the playoff race in the American League West, as it plays 10 of its final 13 games against first-place Oakland and Texas. The Astros went into evaluation mode sometime in April and are looking for signs from the current roster as the rebuilding continues.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), CSN (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jerome Williams (7-10, 4.81 ERA) vs. Astros RH Paul Clemens (4-4, 5.91)

Williams was knocked around for six runs on nine hits in five innings at Toronto on Tuesday but got credit for the win in a 12-6 final. The veteran swingman allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his five previous appearances. Williams lasted just 4 1/3 frames in a loss to Houston on Aug. 16, when he was charged with three runs on five hits and four walks.

Clemens was scratched from his scheduled start last Sunday due to a blister on his middle finger. The rookie from South Carolina surrendered four runs - three earned - on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings against Minnesota on Sept. 2 and has not posted a win since June 12. Clemens appeared out of the bullpen against Los Angeles on June 28, when he was charged with the loss after yielding two runs - one earned - on two hits and two walks in 1 1/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels CF Mike Trout is 0-for-5 with five walks in the series, dropping his batting average to .332. He is second in the AL to Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera (.348).

2. Houston 2B Jose Altuve has multiple hits in four of his last five games and is 5-for-8 in the series.

3. Los Angeles rookie OF Kole Calhoun has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games and has driven in eight runs in the last seven contests.

PREDICTION: Angels 8, Astros 6