Series Preview: Houston Astros at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, June 27-29, 2016

Houston Astros (39-37) at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (32-44), June 27-29, 2016

The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were at a crossroads the last time the two teams faced each other. Who was ready to be a seller and who would be a buyer at the deadline would start with the play in the AL West. Since then both teams have headed in opposite directions.

The Houston Astros are on a roll. Houston is 15-8 in the month of June and has won eight of their last 10 games. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are 8-16 in the month of June and 3-7 in their last 10. The Astros picked up a sweep last week against the Halos, can they do it again? Let's read about it:

Starting pitching

Monday: RHP Collin McHugh (5-5, 4.70 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) vs. RHP Matt Shoemaker (3-8, 4.43 ERA, 1.28 WHIP)
Tuesday: RHP Lance McCullers (3-2, 3.91 ERA, 1.67 WHIP) vs. RHP Tim Lincecum (1-1, 5.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP)
Wedesday: LHP Dallas Keuchel (4-9, 5.35 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) vs. RHP Jered Weaver (6-6, 5.24 ERA, 1.44 WHIP)

Collin McHugh has been a rollercoaster this season in performance. He opened the month of June by allowing eight runs on 12 hits over 9 innings (two starts). He has closed the month of may with back-to-back quality starts, he has allowed three runs over 13 2/3 innings.

McHugh's last start was against the Angels on June 21, he allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings -- walking one and striking out six.

McHugh is 4-2 with a 2.82 ERA in eight starts against the Angels. He is 1-2 with a 2.73 ERA in four career starts at Angel Stadium. Current Angels are batting .260 (27x104) against McHugh with a 3.48 FIP, 0.316 BABIP, 22.3 K%, and a 5.4 BB%.

Matt Shoemaker has posted four quality starts in the month of June already, that includes his most recent start -- June 22 against Houston. Shoemaker allowed three runs on eight hits over 7 1/3 inning in a tough-luck loss. Current Astros are batting .263 (25x95) against Shoemaker with a .355 BABIP, 2.94 FIP, 29.4 K%, and a 4.9 BB%.

Like McHugh, Lance McCullers is having back-to-back starts against the Angels. He allowed just one run over 5 2/3 innings on six hits on June 22. Former Giants great Tim Lincecum makes his third start as an Angel. Lincecum posted a quality start in his first outing and exited after three innings in his second start -- both starts came against Oakland.

Dallas Keuchel has been a workhorse on the mound in his last two starts, pitching 13 1/3 inning and allowing six runs on 16 hits. What I mean by workhorse, Keuchel is having to strain for everything he can get on the mound. He hasn't shown the 2015 Keuchel form yet for a full game in 2016.

The Astros face Jered Weaver for the second time this season, he allowed four runs on six hits over six innings on May 28 against Houston.

Lineup

Mike Trout is doing Mike Trout things over the past week. He is batting .462 (12x26) with six runs scored, two home runs, and five RBIs. Kole Calhoun is batting .333 (9x27) with a double and a home run over his last six games. Andrelton Simmons is batting .333 (7x21) with a double in his last six games. Albert Pujols is batting .316 (6x19) with two home runs and three RBIs.

Colby Rasmus has hit the ball well this past week, he is batting .412 (7x17) with five runs scored, a double, a home run, and tow RBIs. Jose Altuve continues his trek for the MVP award, batting .400 (8x20) with two home runs and four RBIs. Carlos Correa was the AL Player of the Week last week, he is batting .286 (6x21) with three doubles, two home runs, and six RBIs.

Prediction

Astros drop game one but rolls in games two and three against the Halos.

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