Angels look to even series against AL West Foes

The Angels are back under .500, again. They’ve struggled all year against AL West opponents (20-31) and teams at or above the .500 mark (29-47). Houston currently leads the season series 7-3.

Barría enters the game with a 2-0 record, 4.21 ERA, and is coming off his last start against the Dodgers where he went 6 innings and allowed 3 runs. This year, Barría has loved pitching at the Big A, where in 2 games he’s gone 10.2 innings and given up 0 runs. This will be the first time Barría has pitched against the Astros this season, as a starter or reliever.

On the other hand, the Halos are familiar with Astros starter Luis Garcia (8-6, 3.29 ERA). In three games against the Angels this season, Garcia has gone 10.1 innings allowing 11 hits, 6 runs, and 4 HR. Ohtani homered against Garcia, when he was a reliever, for his seventh of the season back on April 25th, breaking a 2-2 tie in the 8th with a 440 foot moonshot.

Pitching needs to be strong this series as the Astros lead all of baseball in batting average (.266), RBIs (593), and hits (1,046). Last night the bullpen held the ‘Stros scoreless, after Patrick Sandoval’s early exit after giving up a grand slam, which was promising from the likes of Cishek, Mayers, and Quintana.

Ohtani is leading off for the Angels again tonight as the DH:

The Angels have played Ohtani all over in the lineup and have been most recently having him leadoff. This season he has started 8 games at leadoff and in 26 ABs he’s put together a .269/.345/.654 slash line. This is accompanied by a .999 OPS, 3 BB, 5 RBI, and 2 HR.

Angels News and Notes:

• Alex Cobb’s wrist has not been responding well to treatment and is not ready to return
• Joe Maddon said they’re still finalizing the pitching plan for the roadtrip but stated it’s unlikely Chris Rodriguez will factor in
• Today is Mark Gubicza’s, the Angels color commentator and former Royal and Angels, 59th birthday. Happy birthday Gubie!