Astros at Angels
The Los Angeles Angels will try to right their listing ship when they host the Houston Astros on Saturday in the middle of their three-game series. The Angels (2-8) are off to their worst start since they were an expansion team in 1961 and are 0-4 at home for the first time since 1992. They’ve allowed 58 runs through the first 10 games, third-most in the major leagues, and scored 35, which ties for second-fewest in the American League.
Much of the problems on offense can be tied to leadoff hitter Mike Trout and off-season acquisition Josh Hamilton. Trout is hitting .227 with no home runs after hitting .326 with 30 homers on his way to winning AL Rookie of the Year last season. Hamilton is struggling even more. The 2010 AL Most Valuable Player with the Texas Rangers is hitting .179 with 14 strikeouts in 39 at-bats. He may have hit a new low in Friday’s 5-0 loss to the Astros, thinking there were two outs on a foul pop out to third and getting doubled up at first to end the game.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Houston, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lucas Harrell (0-2, 7.84 ERA) vs. Angels RH Garrett Richards (0-0, 2.08)
Harrell pitched well in his season opener against the Rangers, limiting them to one earned run and six hits over six innings, but the Houston offense came up empty in the 8-0 loss. He struggled against the highest-scoring team in the majors this season, allowing eight runs and seven hits while surrendering three homers in 4 1/3 innings of a 9-3 loss Sunday against the Oakland Athletics. Harrell has never been matched against the Angels in his four-year career. The only position players he has faced are Hamilton (0-for-2) and Chris Iannetta (1-for-2).
Richards has stepped into Jered Weaver’s spot in the rotation after Weaver went down with a fractured left elbow Sunday. He’s expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Richards has made 12 career starts in 41 appearances, but has yet to pitch against the Astros. The only player on Houston that he has faced is first baseman Chris Carter, who struck out in his only at-bat while he was with the Oakland Athletics. Richards has been decent at Angel Stadium, posting a 2-1 record and a 3.99 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. April has been worst month for Harrell in his major-league career. He’s 1-4 with a 5.54 ERA during the month.
2. The Angels did not have an at-bat with a runner in scoring position in Friday’s loss to the Astros.
3. The Astros are 4-0 this season when scoring first.
PREDICTION: Astros 6, Angels 2