Matt Shoemaker (2-5, 6.81 ERA) and Mike Fiers (3-2, 4.35 ERA) start in the first of a three-game series between the Los Angeles Angels (21-26) and the Houston Astros (20-28) at Angel Stadium. Action begins at 10:05 p.m. ET on Friday, May. 27 and can be seen on RTSW and FSW.
Shoemaker pitched 7.1 innings in his last outing, surrendering zero runs and striking out 12 in a 3-1 defeat to the Orioles. Kole Calhoun (.298, 26 Rs, 3 HRs, 22 RBIs, 1 SB) had another good game Wednesday, going 3 for 5 with one RBI. Fiers went 7.0 innings, surrendering two runs and striking out six in a 2-1 defeat to the Rangers in his most recent start. George Springer (.270, 29 Rs, 11 HRs, 28 RBIs, 3 SBs) has been successful at the plate for the Astros, going 2 for 4 yesterday with two runs, two home runs, and two RBIs.
The odds for Los Angeles and Houston are even, while the Over/Under (O/U) is currently unavailable. Within its division, Los Angeles has a record of 4-12 SU. The Angels have seen an uptick in scoring as of late, averaging 0.0 runs during the last 10 games compared to their season average of 0.0 runs per game. Los Angeles’s pitching staff has been doing better against opposing offenses during the last 10 games, only allowing an average of 0.0 runs per game, well under their season average of 0.0.
The Astros are 11-8 against teams in their division. Offensively, the Astros have really picked up the pace in the last 10 games. They have exceeded their season average of 0.0 runs per game by averaging 0.0 during that stretch. The Astros have a dynamic offense, ranking fourth in the league with 158 extra base hits. The Astros are an excellent base-stealing team with an MLB-best 39 stolen bases. The Astros allow 0.0 runs per game, but have improved upon those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 0.0 runs per game during that span. When it comes to issuing walks, the Astros have the fourth-fewest in the AL with an average of just 2.7 walks allowed per game.
Predictions: SU Winner – HOU
Notes
Los Angeles recorded at least two errors for the sixth time this season.
The Angels managed to give up five walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Astros who are coming in with a 9-8 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
It looks like the Astros have a slight leg up on the Angels, as the Astros have won their last three games while the Angels have lost their last two.
When they outhit their opponents, the Astros are 12-4. The Angels have an 18-4 record when outhitting opponents.
Los Angeles and Houston both rank in the bottom half of the league in runs. Los Angeles sits at 19th with 192 runs this season and Houston ranks 18th with 193.
Ranking 17th, Los Angeles is in the bottom half of the league in walks, notching 141 this season. Houston ranks in the top five at fourth with 181.
When the Angels hit at least one home run, they are 16-10. When the Astros hit at least one homer, they have a 17-20 record.
