The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels face off in the final game of their three-game series in Anaheim this Sunday. Currently, the Angels sit at the bottom of the AL West Division. They are expected to spend their offseason focusing on strengthening their roster around their star player, Mike Trout. Meanwhile, the Astros are poised to clinch another AL West Division title with just over two weeks remaining in the regular season. The game will feature a pitching duel between Astros’ right-hander Ronel Blanco (10-6, 2.99 ERA) and Angels’ rookie righty Caden Dana (1-1, 9.00 ERA). First pitch is set for 4:05 PM EST.
Astros Aim for Division Title with Blanco on the Mound
The Houston Astros are closing in on yet another division title in the AL West. They hold a five-game advantage in the loss column over the Seattle Mariners as they head into Saturday’s matchup. After enduring a three-game losing streak, the Astros have bounced back with two consecutive victories, including a win against the Angels in the series opener on Friday night.
*This article was written before the completion of Saturday night’s game.
The Astros will start Ronel Blanco in the finale, marking a significant moment in his first season as a starting pitcher. Blanco boasts a record of 10-6 with an impressive 2.99 ERA and a WHIP of 1.09 across 27 appearances, 26 of which have been starts. He has delivered 12 quality starts, allowing only 102 hits over 150.1 innings pitched. The Astros are cautious about his innings, as this is a career-high for him. Blanco last pitched in relief on September 7, throwing just two innings while striking out five batters.
Key Injuries: RP Penn Murfee, RP Kendell Graveman, and LF Chas McCormick are currently sidelined.
Angels Hand the Ball to Rookie Dana
The Los Angeles Angels are concluding a disappointing season marked by injuries and underperformance. Their season has been particularly impacted by the loss of star center fielder Mike Trout, who is out due to a knee injury. The Angels find themselves at the bottom of the AL West and are gearing up for a long offseason as they look to enhance their roster. They enter Saturday’s contest against the Astros on a three-game losing streak, having lost the series opener 5-3.
*This article was written before the completion of Saturday night’s game.
For the series finale, the Angels will rely on rookie right-hander Caden Dana. This will be just his third start in the major leagues, and his performances have been mixed. Currently, Dana holds a record of 1-1 with a troubling 9.00 ERA and a WHIP of 2.00. In his second start, he was hit hard, giving up five runs on seven hits and lasting only one inning.
Key Injuries: CF Mike Trout, CF Jake Marisnick, and OF Jason Martin are unavailable.
Best Bets for Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels
While the Astros have struggled slightly in their recent games, the Angels have faltered significantly, suffering three straight losses leading up to this matchup. The Angels will field rookie Dana, who was hit hard in his last outing, giving up five runs in just one inning. In contrast, Houston’s Blanco is well-rested after pitching only two innings in relief last week, and the Astros have won three of his last five starts. Given this pitching disparity, the Astros are expected to capitalize on the matchup and secure a decisive victory to conclude the series.
