Angels at Astros
The Los Angeles Angels are looking to halt a four-game losing streak and find themselves having to solve the red-hot Justin Verlander when they open a three-game road series against the Houston Astros on Friday. The Angels have dropped nine of their last 13 and sit 2 1/2 games behind Minnesota for the American League's second wild-card spot.
Verlander is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three outings since being acquired from Detroit , with one of those starts being a victory against the Angels on Sept. 12 in which he allowed just one hit over eight scoreless innings. The Astros saw their six-game winning streak end with Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox and are 2 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the AL's best record. Los Angeles dropped a 4-1 decision to the Indians on Thursday as it was swept of a three-game set, and superstar Mike Trout said his club needs to just focus on itself. "We can't look and see what the Twins are doing," Trout told reporters. "We've got to win games. It doesn't matter if they win or lose - we've got to win. We're still in it, so we're going to keep pushing and try to win ballgames."
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Garrett Richards (0-2, 2.00 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (13-8, 3.50)
Richards has lost back-to-back starts, pitching five innings in each outing as he regains his form after a biceps injury. The 29-year-old has struck out 18 batters in as many innings this season - the second in a row interrupted by an arm injury. Richards is 5-4 with a 3.58 ERA in 13 career appearances (10 starts) against the Astros, including a loss opposite Verlander in which he gave up one run and four hits over five frames.
Verlander has struck out 26 and walked just three in 21 innings since joining Houston's rotation. "I think my mechanics and everything have been pretty good," the 34-year-old Verlander told reporters. "My last few starts are really to try to go out there and maintain that feel and just attack and help get us a win." Verlander is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts versus the Angels this year and 7-8 with a 3.55 ERA in 18 career turns.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels have lost 22 of their last 33 games at Minute Maid Park.
2. Houston RF George Springer, who is hitless in eight at-bats over the last two games, has belted just one homer in his last 16 contests.
3. Trout, who reached base four times (two hits, two walks) on Thursday, is just 2-for-17 against Verlander.