Astros aim to continue march toward title in rematch vs. Angels
The Houston Astros moved one step closer to clinching the American League West title for the seventh time in eight seasons behind another strong start from Yusei Kikuchi on Thursday.
The left-hander gave up one run and five hits over six innings in Houston's 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels that reduced the Astros' magic number to five.
The Astros will look to take another step toward the West title on Friday night when they play the second contest of a four-game series vs. visiting Los Angeles.
While Kikuchi did not factor into the decision on Thursday, the Astros improved to 9-0 with him on the mound following his trade deadline acquisition from the Toronto Blue Jays. And while Kikuchi has been at the forefront of the roster changes Houston made down the stretch, contributions from the likes of Jason Heyward and Hector Neris - both of whom were released in August - were noteworthy as well.
Neris, released by the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 20, worked a perfect seventh inning and recorded a strikeout. Heyward, cut by the Los Angeles Dodgers four days later, made a fabulous sliding grab in left field to conclude the top of the ninth. With the postseason in sight, the Astros (83-70) continue to shape their roster for what they hope is another extended run.
"They've been really good on the baseball field, but for me, also in the clubhouse," Astros manager Joe Espada said. "They bring a different dynamic. Their personalities are different, and they have meshed really well with our players. But it also gives me the ability to make some moves (and) pinch-hit for certain guys for matchups that I like more than others. It gives me the ability to do some stuff.
They have embraced those roles, and they have excelled in those roles."
Right-hander Justin Verlander (4-6, 5.20 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Astros on Friday.
Verlander notched his first victory since his return from a 54-game stint on the injured list (neck discomfort) after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts over five innings in a 5-3 win over the Angels on Saturday. He last recorded more than 15 outs on May 29 against Seattle and has 14 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings since his reinstatement.
Verlander is 17-11 with a 3.33 ERA in 33 career starts against the Angels. He faced them one other time this season and surrendered four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts over five innings but did not factor into the decision of a 9-7 road loss on June 9.
Left-hander Tyler Anderson (10-13, 3.60 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Angels (62-91) on Friday.
Anderson took the loss against the Astros on Saturday after allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts over five innings. He is winless over his last four starts, going 0-2 with a 5.21 ERA.
Anderson is 1-4 with a 6.24 ERA in 10 career starts against the Astros, including a 1-2 record and 4.26 ERA in three starts this season.
Angels left fielder Taylor Ward hit his 25th home run of the season while leading off the top of the first inning. It marked his fifth leadoff home run in his last 19 games, making Ward the first Angels player with five-plus leadoff homers in a season since Mike Trout had five in 2012.
Ward has reached safely in 38 of his last 42 games overall, including 27 of his last 28.
"Maybe he's catching his second wind," Angels manager Ron Washington said. "Taylor is a battler. He's been battling all year. In the game of baseball, you play six months. You're going to have ups and downs. He's finally put it back together here in September. We're looking for him to continue."
