Game 149 Preview: Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Houston Astros (65-83) at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (93-55), 2:35 p.m. (CST)

TV: CSN Houston, MLB.TV
Radio: KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM
Angels SBNation Blog: Halos Heaven

Pitching matchup

LHP Dallas Keuchel (10-9, 3.06 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) vs. LHP Hector Santiago (5-7, 3.38 ERA, 1.26 WHIP)

Preview

Hello true believers, those who chose baseball over football. There is a reward for your faith, another start from Dallas Keuchel. Kuechel takes the mound on Sunday in hopes of preventing a eleventh straight victory for the Angels, and a series sweep at the same time.

Keuchel currently has a streak of five-straight quality starts, he has allowed just six runs over his last 20 2/3 innings. He has a 2.84 ERA in ten starts since the All-Star Break. But this season, the Angels have been Keuchel's kryptonite as he has allowed 11 earned runs over 18 2/3 innings.

Sunday marks Keuchel's third start at Angel Stadium, he has allowed seven runs over 13.2 prior innings in his two previous starts. One start lasted just five innings and five runs were on the board. The other, the bearded one lasted 8 2/3 innings with two runs allowed.

Looking at the Angels lineup, David Freese has owned Keuchel - hitting 6-for-8 with two extra-base hits. Howie Kendrick (8-16) and Albert Pujols (5-10) are both batting .500 against the Astros lefty. Mike Trout is 4-for-16 with six strikeouts in his career against Keuchel.

Hector Santiago squares off against Keuchel this Sunday for the Angels. Santiago has been just what the doctor ordered since called up June 10, posting a 2.71 ERA in 79 2/3 innings. But, the most interesting part has been Mike Scioscia's leash on Santiago. He allowed 20 runs in his first 32 1/3 innings with the team, but he has completed sixth inning just four times in fourteen starts since being called back up. Santiago allowed just one run over five inning in his last start, but he was pulled after throwing just 79 pitches.

Santiago has allowed five runs over seven innings against the Astros this season. In his lone start against Houston, Santiago gave up five runs over five innings. It was Santiago's final start before being sent down to Triple-A Salt Lake.

Chris Carter has burned Santiago to the tune of 3-for-6 with a double and home run. Jason Castro is 4-for-8 with a double against the Angel's lefty, and Matt Dominguez is 3-for-6 with a double.