Series Preview: Angels vs. Astros vs. Gratitude

One of the reasons the Angels were able to completely put the Athletics, and to a lesser extent the Mariners, in the rearview mirror is because they got a nice big helping hand from the Houston Astros. Despite all their supposed awfulness and turmoil, the ‘Stros took two of three from both Oakland and Seattle last week. For that, Houston, the Angels thank you.

I know that your franchise has had a real rough time in the PR department of late and generally been a punching bag for the rest of the league the last few years, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find a way to show some gratitude. You deserve it, Houston. By helping to fell the Angels’ foes, you are truly doing the Lord’s (that would be Lord Flying Spaghetti Monster) work.

Thanks, Astros!

LAST TIME ON ANGELS VS. ASTROS…
Those ungrateful sons of bitches didn’t limit their spoilering (which I have decided is a new word) to just the A’s and M’s as they completed a two-game sweep of the Angels back in Houston the week before they took out Oakland and Seattle. They didn’t just steal a few games either, they won both games quite comfortably. That’s totally not cool, guys. You better act right this time or I will be withdrawing my gratitude.

GHOST OF ANGELS PAST
Still no former Angels on the Houston roster, but they are supposedly considering Dino Ebel for their opening at manager. That’ll have to suffice for now.

MATCH-UP MASTERY
FRIDAY, 9/12: C.J. Wilson vs. Brett Oberholtzer
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1UZwqxrcci3bTWuTKQS9kv0T48uBvh8JejyZns-6gvWQ/pubchart” query=”oid=1069678194&format=interactive” width=”621″ height=”314″ /] C.J. got lit up by the Astros back on September 2nd. He also got lit up by the Astros on July 4th. Before that, he got lit up by the Astros on June 3rd. I think you see where I am going with this.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1UZwqxrcci3bTWuTKQS9kv0T48uBvh8JejyZns-6gvWQ/pubchart” query=”oid=1550518389&format=interactive” width=”621″ height=”312″ /] Oberholtzer has a limited history against the Angels, but it isn’t a good one. The Halos already hit him pretty hard in the one time they faced him this year.

SATURDAY, 9/13: Jered Weaver vs. Scott Feldman
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1UZwqxrcci3bTWuTKQS9kv0T48uBvh8JejyZns-6gvWQ/pubchart” query=”oid=431771495&format=interactive” width=”621″ height=”315″ /] Jered Weaver has given up 24 homers this year, six of them were hit by the Astros. Weave is the one Halo pitcher that can actually get Jose Altuve out, but he can’t keep the rest of their lineup in the park.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1UZwqxrcci3bTWuTKQS9kv0T48uBvh8JejyZns-6gvWQ/pubchart” query=”oid=835999485&format=interactive” width=”621″ height=”312″ /] Aybar and Kendrick have both raked against Feldman, but Trout can’t figure him out. Baseball is weird, man. Feldman has alternated good and bad starts against the Angels this year. If the pattern holds, he’ll be exiting early this time out.

SUNDAY, 9/14: Hector Santiago vs. Dallas Keuchel
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1UZwqxrcci3bTWuTKQS9kv0T48uBvh8JejyZns-6gvWQ/pubchart” query=”oid=225633547&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”316″ /] Hector Santiago has been pretty good since returning to the rotation. However, his worst start since over that stretch came against Houston. What is with these guys? Why must they haunt the Halos so?

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1UZwqxrcci3bTWuTKQS9kv0T48uBvh8JejyZns-6gvWQ/pubchart” query=”oid=321122389&format=interactive” width=”621″ height=”314″ /] Keuchel is having a great year, but the Angels have killed him in his career. He did have one tremendous start against the Halos earlier this year, but it was sandwiched between two poor ones.

OFFICIAL PREDICTION
The winning streak will come to an end with the Angels winning just two of these three games.

UNOFFICIAL PREDICTION (so don’t hold me to it)
C.J. Wilson will ruin all our fun by being responsible for ending the winning streak as he fails to get out of the third inning, thus casting a shadow of doubt over the Halos’ World Series hopes.