Astros at Angels
The Los Angeles Angels staged an improbable late rally Saturday against the top team in the American League to halt their three-game slide and move closer to a wild-card spot. Los Angeles looks to at least maintain its minuscule deficit in the playoff race when it hosts the Houston Astros on Sunday for the rubber match of their three-game series.
The Angels were edged in the opener of the set and trailed by five runs entering their half of the seventh on Saturday, but they scored twice in the inning and Andrelton Simmons highlighted a four-run eighth with a three-run homer as the club posted a 7-6 victory. Los Angeles improved to 2-4 on its 10-game homestand and climbed within one-half game of Minnesota in the tight and everchanging race for the second wild card. Houston has endured a rough month, posting a 9-15 record that includes a five-game skid from Aug. 8-12 and losses in four of its last six contests as it enters Sunday with a 12 1/2-game lead in the AL West. Alex Bregman's performance has not sagged, however, as the 23-year-old is riding an eight-game hitting streak and a string of four straight multi-hit efforts after enjoying a 14-game hitting streak from July 29-Aug. 12.
TV: 3:37 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Charlie Morton (10-6, 3.81 ERA) vs. Angels RH Ricky Nolasco (6-12, 5.05)
Morton failed to set a new career high in victories on Tuesday as he yielded four runs and five hits over six innings in a loss to Washington. The 33-year-old from New Jersey, who also recorded 10 wins in 2011 while with Pittsburgh, has gone 1-2 in four outings since defeating Tampa Bay on July 31. Morton is 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in three career starts against the Angels, including a triumph on April 17 in which he scattered five hits over five scoreless innings.
Nolasco looks to end the month unbeaten after going 2-0 over his first five starts in August despite posting a 4.97 ERA. The 34-year-old Californian, who hasn't lost since July 26 at Cleveland, has given up fewer than three runs in three of his outings this month while surrendering five in each of his other two turns. Nolasco owns a 7-2 record with two complete games and a 3.63 ERA in 11 career appearances (10 starts) against Houston, including a 1-1 mark in two starts this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels OF Kole Calhoun has recorded two three-hit performances in his last five games and collected 10 RBIs in as many contests.
2. Los Angeles added Blake Wood to the roster after claiming him off waivers from Cincinnati on Friday and optioned fellow RHP Mike Morin to Triple-A Salt Lake.
3. Houston RHP Will Harris (shoulder) threw 30 pitches in a rehab outing with Triple-A Fresno on Saturday and could be activated next week.