Houston @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2018 ) Houston 3, LA Angels 1

The American League West-leading Houston Astros aim for their fourth straight road win when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Houston, which owns a five-game division lead over Seattle, scored three early runs in the opener and rode a stellar pitching performance by Dallas Keuchel to a 3-1 victory.

Josh Reddick scored a run and drove in another as he recorded his second two-hit effort in three games while Keuchel carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning en route to winning his fourth consecutive start and fifth straight decision for the Astros, who have captured 10 of their last 14 contests. Ian Kinsler notched one of the two hits recorded by Los Angeles, which has dropped three of its last four games. Kinsler, who singled and scored in the eighth inning, is riding a five-game hitting streak during which he has gone 7-for-20. Justin Upton notched the Angels' other single on Friday and has hit safely in seven of his last nine contests.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (9-5, 2.29 ERA) vs. Angels RH Nick Tropeano (3-4, 4.83)

Verlander is hoping to benefit from the All-Star break as he uncharacteristically went 0-3 with a 4.10 ERA over his final six starts before the pause in the season. The 35-year-old Virginian did reach double digits in strikeouts three times during the slump, registering 12 in a loss to Detroit on Sunday to vault past Bob Feller and Warren Spahn to claim 26th place on the all-time list with 2,588. Verlander, who is 20 strikeouts away from passing Tom Glavine for 25th, is 10-8 with a 3.12 ERA in 21 career starts versus the Angels - including a 2-0 record with a shutout and a 1.13 ERA in two turns this year.

Tropeano is expected to be activated from the disabled list, where he has been since June 15 due to shoulder inflammation, to make his first start in more than a month. The 27-year-old New Yorker last took the mound for the Angels on June 10, when he yielded five runs on four hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings in a loss at Minnesota. Tropeano fell to 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in three career turns against Houston on April 25 as he gave up four runs over 5 1/3 frames while starting opposite Verlander.

WALK-OFFS

1. Contrary to the team's beliefs prior to the All-Star break, Astros SS Carlos Correa (back) will not be activated from the DL during the team's current road trip.

2. Los Angeles OF Mike Trout is 0-for-6 over his last two contests following a seven-game hitting streak.

3. Houston recalled J.D. Davis from Triple-A Fresno on Friday to fill the roster spot created when fellow 3B Tyler White was optioned to the Grizzlies four days earlier.

PREDICTION: Astros 9, Angels 1