Los Angeles @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2019 ) LA Angels 2, Houston 11

The Houston Astros look to extend their winning streak to six games and move closer to clinching their third straight American League West title when they host the injury-plagued Los Angeles Angels on Friday for the opener of a three-game series. The Astros knocked off Texas 3-2 on Wednesday to become the sixth team in major league history to post at least 100 victories in three straight seasons.

“If you like winning, 100 three years in a row is a lot,” Houston manager AJ Hinch told reporters. “I love it for this team and this organization, and it’s a big accomplishment. It’s one step along the way for us in what we’re trying to accomplish this season.” The Astros, whose magic number sits at two with an eight-game lead over Oakland in the AL West, send veteran Zack Greinke to the mound for the series opener against one of his former teams and the Angels counter with fellow right-hander Jaime Barria. Los Angeles won’t have two-time MVP Mike Trout (foot), along with Justin Upton (knee) and Shohei Ohtani (knee), the rest of the year and lost for the eighth time in 10 games Thursday with a 9-1 setback against the New York Yankees. Kole Calhoun belted his 32nd homer of the season - six more than his previous career high in 2015 - for the Angels’ only run in the loss and the outfielder is 5-for-12 over the last three contests.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jaime Barria (4-9, 5.95 ERA) vs. Astros RH Zack Greinke (16-5, 2.95)

Barria is winless in his last eight trips to the mound after permitting two runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings to lose his sixth straight decision last Saturday against Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old Panama native has given up just two runs in four of his last five outings despite posting three losses, but has not completed more than 5 1/3 frames in 2019. Yuli Gurriel is 4-for-8 with three doubles against Barria, who gave up two runs across 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Houston on Aug. 25.

Greinke has won six of his seven decisions since coming over in a trade with Arizona after allowing one total run on eight hits combined over 12 innings in two straight victories. The 35-year-old Florida native boasts 174 strikeouts and just 29 walks while closing in on his third straight and ninth 200-inning season overall with 195 1/3. Calhoun is 10-for-17 with a double and a homer against Greinke, who defeated the Angels on Aug. 23 with 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball.

WALK-OFFS

1. Gurriel has homers in three straight games while 2B Jose Altuve needs one to tie his teammate and reach 30 for the first time.

2. Los Angeles 1B-DH Albert Pujols needs four hits to become the 14th player in major league history with 3,200.

3. The Astros take on the Angels in seven of their last nine games this year and lead the season series 9-3.

PREDICTION: Astros 7, Angels 3