Houston @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2018 ) Houston 9, LA Angels 3

Mike Trout is back with the Los Angeles Angels after missing three-plus weeks due to a wrist injury and the death of his brother-in-law, Aaron Cox. Trout will be in the lineup again for Saturday's game against the visiting Houston Astros after going 2-for-3 in the opener of the three-game series.

Trout tripled off the left-field wall in his first at-bat in 23 days but couldn't prevent the Angels from suffering a 9-3 loss. Marwin Gonzalez hit his second career grand slam while Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa launched solo blasts as Houston maintained its four-game lead over Oakland in the American League West. Altuve recorded two hits for the second straight game and is 4-for-13 in three contests after missing nearly four weeks with a knee injury. Justin Verlander takes the mound for the Astros on Saturday and has dominated Los Angeles hitters while going 3-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 0.77 WHIP in three meetings this season.

TV: 9:07 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Justin Verlander (12-8, 2.65 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jaime Barria (8-7, 3.41)

Verlander registered his 200th career victory against the Athletics in his last outing but wasn't sharp as he served up three homers while allowing four runs in 5 1/3 innings. The 35-year-old delivered a strong performance versus the Angels on July 21, when he struck out 11 and gave up five hits over six scoreless frames. Verlander is 11-8 with a 2.99 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 22 career starts against Los Angeles.

Barria has won three straight decisions and is unbeaten in five outings after going 0-6 over a seven-start stretch. The 22-year-old Panamanian settled for a no-decision against Texas in his last turn after giving up just one run and seven hits over five innings. Barria also did not factor in the decision against the Astros on May 15, when he gave up one run and four hits in seven frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels 1B Albert Pujols was hitless in three at-bats in the series opener and is 0-for-12 over his last four games.

2. Houston OF George Springer (quadriceps) sat out his fourth straight contest on Friday.

3. Los Angeles optioned OF Jabari Blash to Triple-A Salt Lake to open the roster spot for Trout.

PREDICTION: Astros 4, Angels 3