Angels @ Astros

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Angels (44-43)

@ Houston Astros (55-32)

Starting Pitchers:

Ramirez (LAA): 3-1; 3.16 ERA (opener)

Verlander (HOU) 10-3; 2.86 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Los Angeles Angels: 6-4

Houston Astros: 7-3

Current odds:

Los Angeles Angels: (+200)

Houston Astros (-230)

• The Los Angeles Angels continue their emotional road trip when they visit the Houston Astros on Friday night for the first of three contests before getting a much-needed break during All-Star Game festivities. The Angels won their first two games at Texas after the shocking death of left-handed pitcher Tyler Skaggs before suffering a 9-3 setback in Thursday’s finale despite the third homer in two days from Mike Trout. Trout leads the American League with 25 blasts and Los Angeles slugger Albert Pujols (ankle), who missed the last two games, could return while the status of Justin Upton (quad) is uncertain after he missed Thursday’s contest. Justin Verlander, who could be the starting pitcher for the American League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, gets the ball for the Astros in the series opener and needs three strikeouts to pass Jim Bunning (2,855) for 18th on major league’s all-time list.

• Verlander looks to help AL West-leading Houston extend its winning streak to six games after the Astros swept a pair at Colorado to open the week and won for the eighth straight time against the Angels – two of them this season. Yuli Gurriel has led the way for Houston of late, going 14-for-33 with six homers and 10 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak, while teammate Alex Bregman own three RBIs and four runs scored with three extra-base hits in the past three contests.

• The Angels will use Ramirez as the “opener” before turning to Felix Pena, who will follow a short-term starter for the fifth straight time. Pena, a 29-year-old right-handed Dominican, is winless in his last two outings after going unbeaten in his previous 13 trips to the mound. Alex Bregman is 2-for-5 with a homer versus Pena, who went 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Houston last year.

• Verlander recorded a 2-1 record and 4.02 ERA in six starts last month after giving up four runs on five hits and four walks over five innings in a no-decision versus Seattle. The 36-year-old former AL MVP has permitted at least three runs in five straight starts but has registered 147 strikeouts in 119 2/3 frames and leads the majors with a 0.79 WHIP. Jonathan Lucroy has gone deep three times against Verlander, who beat the Angels on May 5 despite yielding four runs in 6 1/3 innings.

• Angels DH Shohei Ohtani has gone 7-for-14 with two homers and two doubles in his last four contests.

• Houston LF Yordan Alvarez (knee), who was named AL Rookie of the Month for June, is questionable after missing the last two games.

• Los Angeles 1B Albert Pujols needs one hit to tie Robin Yount (3,142) for 18th place on the all-time list and is one double shy of 650.