Keuchel, who already beat the Angels once earlier this season, is pitching well against everybody these days. He was the American League pitcher of the month after going 5-0 with a 1.21 ERA in six starts.
His five wins and 44 2/3 innings pitched were most in the majors in April, and May might not be any different considering the way he feels about how he’s throwing the baseball.
While Keuchel has had success both against the league and against the Angels, there is one Angel who has hit him well: Mike Trout.
Trout is hitting .368 (14-for-38) with two homers, a .455 on-base percentage and .981 OPS against Keuchel. He had two hits against Keuchel when they matched up April 19 in Houston.
Trout, though, may not be 100 percent for the game. He is expected to play despite a tight hamstring that kept him out of the starting lineup for the first time all season Thursday in Seattle.
Trout had started all 29 games before then, 28 in center field and one at DH. The DH option, however, is not a consideration because of the hamstring issue, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Jesse Chavez will start on the mound for the Angels. Chavez has pitched well against the Astros, but it’s been mostly as a reliever. He’s 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 22 games, including six starts.
The Astros, who have the best record in the American League at 19-10, will look to extend their division lead over the second place Angels. The Angels are currently 15-15 following two straight losses versus the Mariners, and sit 4.5 games back of the first place ‘Stros. Houston has been getting fantastic play from Marwan Gonzalez among others of late, especially in this last series against the Rangers, including a grand slam with two outs to take the lead and secure a win in Game 2 of the series.