Houston opens a three-game series Monday at Angel Stadium against a Los Angeles club that sits dead last in the AL West at 42-64, one of the worst teams in the majors by record. Despite that gulf in the standings, the Angels have won four of their seven head-to-head meetings with Houston this season and hold a 42-30 edge in runs scored across those games—a strange soft spot for a team that just took two of three from the surging White Sox.
The season series has followed an unusual pattern. While Houston has consistently handled most of the league despite battling injuries throughout its roster, the Angels have repeatedly capitalized on timely hitting and kept the Astros from stringing together the kind of offensive innings that have fueled much of their success elsewhere. Houston has averaged just over four runs per game against Los Angeles this season, well below its production during its recent surge, while the Angels have taken advantage of key opportunities to build early leads and force the Astros to play from behind. For a club sitting at the bottom of the division, it’s been an unexpectedly one-sided matchup.
Monday’s pitching matchup carries some history. Houston faces Angels right-hander Walbert Ureña, who dominated the Astros in a June meeting between the two teams, tossing five shutout innings and needing 107 pitches to work through traffic all night. Ureña walked away from that outing with a 2.44 ERA; he’s been even better since, sitting at 6-7 with a 2.78 ERA and 83 strikeouts, and hitters have managed just a .151 average against him across his three most recent turns through the rotation. Houston sends Tatsuya Imai to the mound in the opener, looking to avoid a repeat.
Peter Lambert takes the ball Tuesday against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers, a much friendlier assignment for Houston given Lambert’s 3.03 ERA, among the better marks for any starter in the American League this season.
Wednesday’s finale is murkier. Spencer Arrighetti had been lined up for that start before landing on the injured list this weekend with right foot nerve irritation. Hayden Wesneski, who made a rehab appearance for Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, his fifth since beginning his recovery buildup, is considered an option to step in, though Houston has not confirmed a starter.
Houston’s lineup has come alive of late, batting a collective .258 with a .465 slugging percentage over its last six games, and the Astros sit two games behind first-place Texas in the AL West. Yordan Alvarez remains the major league home run leader with 34, and general manager Dana Brown has made adding outfield offense the organization’s clear priority with the trade deadline one week away. Before Houston can turn its full attention to deadline upgrades, however, it first has to solve the one divisional opponent that has consistently refused to follow the standings.
Heading to Daikin Park soon? Check our complete Astros promotions schedule before your next game.
