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Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview and Predictions 05-14-2018
13th May 2018 by Gracenote
the houston astros and los angeles angels have spent the first quarter of 2018 jostling each other for first place in the american league west to little avail. after dropping two of three at home late last month, the astros attempt to even the season series at two games apiece monday when they meet the angels in the opener of a three-game set.
houston or los angeles has held the top spot in the division all season long, although neither club has managed to extend its advantage over the other to more than 2 1/2 games. the astros held on to their one-game lead sunday with a 6-1 victory over texas for their fifth win in six outings, riding yet another strong start from a pitching staff that hasn't yielded more than two runs in any game during the recent surge. the angels are coming off a four-game series split at home with minnesota, getting a walk-off rbi single from zack cozart in the ninth inning sunday to edge the twins 2-1. justin upton went 0-for-4 to end a seven-game hitting streak, but a fifth-inning run-scoring groundout extended his rbi streak to six games.
tv: 10:07 p.m. et, mlb network, at&t sportsnet-southwest (houston), fs west (los angeles)
pitching matchup: astros rh lance mccullers jr. (5-1, 3.72 era) vs. angels lh andrew heaney (1-2, 4.78)
mccullers is unbeaten in his last six turns and won his fourth straight decision tuesday at oakland despite issuing four free passes as he permitted two runs on five hits in five frames. it marked the first time in five trips to the mound he did not produce a quality start, but the 24-year-old floridian did enough to improve to 4-0 in five road outings despite a 4.67 era. mike trout is 2-for-17 with a homer and eight strikeouts versus mccullers, who is 3-1 with a 1.78 era in nine starts against los angeles.
heaney turned in his second straight quality start and third straight outing allowing two or fewer runs tuesday at colorado, yielding two runs on five hits and three walks across six innings. the oklahoma state product has rebounded nicely from a poor outing against san francisco on april 20, going 1-1 with a 2.12 era over his last three turns. heaney has not surrendered a homer in four of his five outings as he faces the astros for the first time since tossing five scoreless innings in a no-decision in 2015.
walk-offs
1. astros of george springer (elbow) did not play for a second straight day sunday, but is expected to return to the lineup for the opener.
2. upton is tied with cleveland of michael brantley for the most rbis in may (17).
3. houston 2b jose altuve went 0-for-13 against the rangers, marking the first time he has been held hitless in three straight games since sept- 3-5, 2017.
prediction: astros 5, angels 2
13th May 2018 by Gracenote
the houston astros and los angeles angels have spent the first quarter of 2018 jostling each other for first place in the american league west to little avail. after dropping two of three at home late last month, the astros attempt to even the season series at two games apiece monday when they meet the angels in the opener of a three-game set.
houston or los angeles has held the top spot in the division all season long, although neither club has managed to extend its advantage over the other to more than 2 1/2 games. the astros held on to their one-game lead sunday with a 6-1 victory over texas for their fifth win in six outings, riding yet another strong start from a pitching staff that hasn't yielded more than two runs in any game during the recent surge. the angels are coming off a four-game series split at home with minnesota, getting a walk-off rbi single from zack cozart in the ninth inning sunday to edge the twins 2-1. justin upton went 0-for-4 to end a seven-game hitting streak, but a fifth-inning run-scoring groundout extended his rbi streak to six games.
tv: 10:07 p.m. et, mlb network, at&t sportsnet-southwest (houston), fs west (los angeles)
pitching matchup: astros rh lance mccullers jr. (5-1, 3.72 era) vs. angels lh andrew heaney (1-2, 4.78)
mccullers is unbeaten in his last six turns and won his fourth straight decision tuesday at oakland despite issuing four free passes as he permitted two runs on five hits in five frames. it marked the first time in five trips to the mound he did not produce a quality start, but the 24-year-old floridian did enough to improve to 4-0 in five road outings despite a 4.67 era. mike trout is 2-for-17 with a homer and eight strikeouts versus mccullers, who is 3-1 with a 1.78 era in nine starts against los angeles.
heaney turned in his second straight quality start and third straight outing allowing two or fewer runs tuesday at colorado, yielding two runs on five hits and three walks across six innings. the oklahoma state product has rebounded nicely from a poor outing against san francisco on april 20, going 1-1 with a 2.12 era over his last three turns. heaney has not surrendered a homer in four of his five outings as he faces the astros for the first time since tossing five scoreless innings in a no-decision in 2015.
walk-offs
1. astros of george springer (elbow) did not play for a second straight day sunday, but is expected to return to the lineup for the opener.
2. upton is tied with cleveland of michael brantley for the most rbis in may (17).
3. houston 2b jose altuve went 0-for-13 against the rangers, marking the first time he has been held hitless in three straight games since sept- 3-5, 2017.
prediction: astros 5, angels 2
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