Houston and Los Angeles have another four games to play.
Tonight starting at 7:10 PM CT, the Astros will play host to the Los Angeles Angels in the first game of a four-game set.
This will be the fourth and final series of the year, albeit the first one to last four games instead of three. Houston leads the season series, six-to-three, and will claim dominance with just one more victory. Historically, Houston’s 127-82 record versus the Halos counts out to a .608 winning percentage, Houston’s best against any other opponent.
When last we saw the Angels, they were getting swept at their house, culminating in a 6-4 win on Sunday. Ronel Blanco tossed six innings of shutout ball, giving up two walks and four hits against five strikeouts. He placed 58-of-92 offerings over the plate. Hector Neris followed with a perfect seventh, collecting one strikeout. Kaleb Ort gave up a run in his inning of work, and Caleb Ferguson followed by allowing three runs in his third of an inning. Josh Hader (31) had to play fireman for the final two outs. Jason Heyward (8) led Houston’s offense with two singles and a home run. Jeremy Peña had a pair of hits as well.
His reputation, I can see why it follows him around everywhere he goes. He’s a true pro. — Joe Espada, on Heyward
Houston managed to win one-of-three in San Diego over the past three days, including a combined two-hitter (against) on Wednesday. Heyward and Mauricio Dubón were the only Houston players to get hits, both singles, and nobody drew a walk. Framber Valdez (14-7, 2.85) lost despite dropping his ERA once more, giving up one run in seven strong innings. He put 63-of-94 in the black. Ort came in and allowed back-to-back-to-back home runs to San Diego without recording an out in the eighth inning.
I know he was throwing hard, but the results weren’t there for him. — Espada, on Ort
The Angels meanwhile won two-of-three against the juggernaut Chicago White Sox, including a 4-3, 13-inning walkoff victory in Wednesday. Jose Quijada (2-0, 1.00) got the win, on a Jordyn Adams RBI-single with one out in the final frame.
He had them on top of the baseball all day. After he got through the seventh, he was only at 79 pitches, but it wasn’t about the pitch count. It was more about facing the lineup for a fourth time. — Ron Washington on starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz
Gametimes and Starting Pitchers
Thursday, 7:10 PM CT: José Suarez (1-2, 6.80) vs. Yusei Kikuchi (9-9, 4.29)
Friday, 7:10 PM CT: Tyler Anderson (10-13, 3.60) vs. Justin Verlander (4-6, 5.20)
Saturday, 6:10 PM CT: Reid Detmers (4-7, 6.05) vs. Ronel Blanco (11-6, 2.88)
Sunday, 1:10 PM CT: Griffin Canning (6-13, 5.16) vs. Spencer Arrighetti (7-13, 4.68)
With a magic number of six, the Astros could conceivably lock up the AL West Division Title for the eighth time in nine seasons before the end of this series. If they don’t end up winning it prior to then, they’ll have plenty of chances when they host the Seattle Mariners three times starting Monday.