Game No. 154 Preview: Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels

Houston Astros (95-59) vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (76-78), Sept. 24, 2017, 7:08 PM CT

TV: ESPN
Radio: KBME 790 AM, La Nueva 94.1 FM
Online: MLB.TV, Watch ESPN
Angels SBNation Blog: Halos Heaven

Pitching Matchup

RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (7-3, 3.97 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, .324 BABIP, 3.15 xFIP) vs. RHP Tyler Skaggs (2-6, 4.30 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, .316 BABIP, 4.48 xFIP)

Preview

The Houston Astros have a chance to all but eliminate another AL West team from the playoffs on Sunday. The Los Angeles Angels are tied with the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers at 4 ¹⁄₂ games behind the Minnesota Twins for the final playoff spot in the American League. The Astros could theoretically put the Angels back 5 ¹⁄₂ games on Sunday with seven games remaining for the Halos.

The Astros try to pick up a series sweep with Lance McCullers back on the mound. McCullers was a scratch from a start earlier this month with arm fatigue. In one start in September, McCullers allowed three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings on Sept. 6 against the Mariners.

McCullers is 3-1 with a 1.55 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels. He is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two starts (13 2/3 IP) in 2017.

Albert Pujols is 4-for-20 with a home run against McCullers. Mike Trout is batting .067 (1-for-15) with one home run. Luis Valbuena is 2-for-2 with a walk.

Tyler Skaggs goes for the Angels on Sunday. He is 1-2 with a 4.43 ERA in four starts during the month of August, including seven scoreless innings against the Astros on Sept. 13.

Skaggs is 3-2 with a 2.67 ERA in six career starts against the Astros. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against the Astros in 2017.

Jose Altuve is 5-for-14 with a walk in his career against Skaggs. George Springer is 0-for-11 against Skaggs.