Tuesday, July 28, 8:38 p.m. CT at Angel Stadium, game two of the series. The Astros kicked off the series with a win Monday night, 6-4, and now sit second in the AL West at 53-55. The Angels are bottomed out at 42-65. This should be an easy sweep for the Astros, and the Astros' most reliable pitcher is starting the night off.
Here is a look at the pitching matchup, per MLB:
Peter Lambert: (8-5, 3.03 ERA, 94 SO)
Lambert might just be the Astros' most consistent arm of the season so far. Lambert is not the pitcher anyone expected to be holding this rotation together. He was signed to a minor league deal after pitching in Japan last season with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
With the trade deadline approaching and the rotation continuing to thin out, Lambert has quietly become one of the most valuable pitchers on this roster. The Astros need him to keep showing up if they want to stay in the AL West race.
Reid Detmers: (3-7, 4.05 ERA, 136 SO)
Detmers has struggled specifically against Houston in his career, with a losing record against the Astros dating back several seasons.
Detmers is reportedly on the trading block ahead of Monday's deadline, this could be his last start as an Angel. Which adds an extra storyline to an already meaningful game.
Players to watch:
Yordan Alvarez is batting .323 with 34 home runs, 78 RBI, and a 1.074 OPS this season, leading all of baseball in home runs, per MLB.
Jeremy Peña has been on an absolute tear lately. He was just named AL Player of the Week for July 20-26 after hitting .500 with five home runs and eight RBI over six games, and he's currently riding a nine-game hitting streak since returning from the IL, per MLB. Peña has been locked in since coming back.
Astros still without Carlos Correa (ankle), who will be out for the rest of the season, per MLB, and Spencer Arrighetti (foot), who was placed on the 15-day IL.
A win moves Houston closer to both the division and wild card race. Series continues Wednesday before Houston heads home for a season-defining set with Texas. They need a new winning streak if they want to avoid watching the playoffs from home two seasons in a row.
