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Game No. 73 Preview: Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels

Astros go for the sweep with McCullers on the mound.

By Ryan Dunsmore
Eric Christian Smith/Getty Images

Houston Astros (36-36) vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (31-40), June 22, 2016, 1:10 PM CDT

TV: Root Sports Southwest
Online: MLB.TV
Radio: KBME SportsTalk 790 AM, La Nueva 94.1 FM (En Español) 
Angels SB Nation Blog: Halos Heaven

Pitching Matchup

RHP Lance McCullers (3-2, 4.24 ERA, 1.69 WHIP) vs. RHP Matt Shoemaker (3-7, 4.50 ERA, 1.27 WHIP)

Preview

The Houston Astros have blasted the Angels for 10 runs in game one and had a walk-off win in game two. Houston looks for the sweep with Lance McCullers on the mound in game three against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, of California, of the United State of America, of North America, of Earth, of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Lance McCullers is looking for some home cooking. He is 2-1 with a 2.55 ERA in four home starts this season.  McCullers is coming off 6 2/3 solid inning against the Reds -- he allowed two runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking three.

McCullers has struggled in the first and second inning of his start this season. He has a 7.71 ERA in the first and 10.29 ERA in the second after seven starts. He settles in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth inning -- all four innings have an ERA below 2.70.

McCullers is 1-1 with a 2.52 ERA in four career starts against the Angels. He has struck out 21 and walked five.

Current Angels are batting .220 (11x50) against McCullers with a .231 BABIP, 4.74 FIP, 16.4 K%, and a 7.3 BB%.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS CAREER STATISTICS VS. LANCE MCCULLERS
BATTER AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
Kole Calhoun 11 1 1 0 0 0 1 3 0.091 0.167 0.182 0.348
C.J. Cron 8 2 1 0 0 0 1 3 0.250 0.333 0.375 0.708
Johnny Giavotella 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Carlos Perez 4 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0.500 0.500 0.750 1.250
Albert Pujols 11 4 1 0 1 1 1 0 0.364 0.417 0.727 1.144
Shane Robinson 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.333 0.333 0.333 0.667
Mike Trout 7 1 0 0 1 2 1 3 0.143 0.333 0.571 0.905

Matt Shoemaker starts for the Angels. He struggled to start the season but found his form against the Astros with 8 1/3 inning in which he allowed two runs on seven hits. Since that start, he has posted three quality starts in four outings.

In his last start, he allowed one run on six hits over six innings against the Athletics. Shoemaker is 2-1 with a 4.55 ERA in six career appearances (four starts) against the Astros.

Current Astros are batting .264 (19x72) against Shoemaker with a .370 BABIP, 2.44 FIP, 31.6 K%, and a 3.9 BB%.

HOUSTON ASTROS CAREER STATISTICS VS. MATT SHOEMAKER
BATTER AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
Jose Altuve 12 5 1 0 1 1 0 1 0.417 0.462 0.750 1.212
Jason Castro 10 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.400
Carlos Correa 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.333 0.333 0.333 0.667
Evan Gattis 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0.200 0.200 0.200 0.400
Marwin Gonzalez 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0.250 0.400 0.250 0.650
Tony Kemp 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Jake Marisnick 7 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 0.286 0.286 0.429 0.714
Colin Moran 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.333 0.333 0.333 0.667
Colby Rasmus 10 4 0 0 1 2 1 4 0.400 0.455 0.700 1.155
Jon Singleton 3 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 0.333 0.500 1.333 1.833
George Springer 7 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Preston Tucker 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.250 0.250 0.250 0.500
Luis Valbuena 7 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0.143 0.250 0.143 0.393
Tyler White 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

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