The Los Angeles Angels are off to a great start, its best since 2007, and look to advance to 3-0 against the AL West division rival Houston Astros on Saturday.
Who is this Los Angeles Angels team?
The Angels are 2-0 to start the season and are seeking its first 3-0 start since 2007 when the team swept the Texas Rangers in a three-game series. Nobody predicted that the Angels would have a great season let alone a good start against the American League West rival Houston Astros, but here we are.
On the shoulders of three-time Most Valuable Player Mike Trout, the Angels outscored the Astros 9-2 through two games after its 6-2 win on Friday. Trout has homered in both games, drawn four walks and stole a base on Opening Day while playing center field; it appears that Trout is back to being the elite player he was before the injury bug hit him hard over the past five years.
He went 3-for-4 in the second game and helped lead the Halos past right-handed starter Mike Burrows, who pitched 5.2 innings and gave up five runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out six. He surrendered a three-run home run to left fielder Josh Lowe in the second inning, one of Lowe’s two hits, and gave Los Angeles all it needed to take home the victory.
Shortstop Zach Neto hit a homer in the ninth inning and collected two hits, as did first baseman Nolan Schanuel who went 2-for-3 with two walks.
Houston was able to muster eight hits against Angels lefty Yusei Kikuchi over 4.1 innings, but Kikuchi only allowed two runs, striking out three and walking one. Los Angeles’ bullpen was outstanding again, and now have pitched 7.2 scoreless innings surrendering just one hit and four walks with nine strikeouts.
The Angels will send left-hander Reid Detmers to the mound after an impressive season in the bullpen, posting a 3.96 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 80 strikeouts over 63.2 innings (61 appearances). He struggled as a starter over the last two seasons, prompting the switch to the bullpen which benefited both parties.
Detmers will battle Astros right-hander Cristian Javier, who has been limited to just 15 starts over the last two seasons combined due to injury. Javier was 2-4 with a 4.62 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 34 strikeouts in 37 innings (eight starts). Houston needs him to contain Trout and the Angels to avoid beginning the season 0-3 for just the second time since 2011.
No lineups are available at this time but expect pretty much the same lineups from the first two games for both sides with possibly some minor tweaks based on matchups.
First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET on MLB.TV and regional networks.