Houston @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2018 ) Houston 8, LA Angels 3

The Houston Astros begin a crucial series against Oakland on Monday, but first they’ll look to complete a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. The Astros maintained their 1 1/2-game lead over the Athletics in the American League West and improved to 5-3 on their nine-game road trip with Saturday’s 8-3 win over the Angels, who have lost five in a row.

Marwin Gonzalez homered for the second straight contest and Yuli Gurriel drove in two runs Saturday as the Astros cruised to their fourth straight win. Outfielder George Springer missed his fifth consecutive game with a sore left quadriceps but could be available to pinch-hit on Sunday and hopes to return to the starting lineup for Monday’s series opener versus Oakland. Shohei Ohtani gave the Angels a spark on Saturday by going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, but Albert Pujols was hitless in four at-bats and is 0-for-16 over his last five games. Mike Trout contributed two hits for the Angels, who fell four games under .500 for the first time this season.

TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Framber Valdez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Angels RH Felix Pena (1-3, 4.53)

Valdez is making a spot start in place of Gerrit Cole, who was given an extra day of rest and will start Monday’s contest against Oakland. The 24-year-old Dominican impressed in his major-league debut on Tuesday, allowing two hits over 4 1/3 innings of relief versus Seattle. Valdez earned the call to Houston after posting a 4.11 ERA in 22 games (14 starts) in the minors this season.

Pena is facing Houston for the first time after recording another solid performance on Tuesday, when he allowed four runs over six innings against Arizona. “You look on the board, four runs, but he threw the ball much better than that,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters. “He’s throwing the ball much more consistently right now.” The 28-year-old has allowed three runs or fewer in nine of 11 starts since joining the Angels' rotation in mid-June.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Astros have gone 17-5 in 22 games in California this season – including 6-2 against the Angels.

2. Angels OF Kole Calhoun is hitting .304 with 12 home runs and 31 RBIs over his last 38 contests.

3. Houston 3B Alex Bregman has reached base safely in 44 consecutive road games, the longest active streak in the majors.

PREDICTION: Angels 6, Astros 4