Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview and Predictions 07-20-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 19th July 2018 by Gracenote
The Houston Astros finished the first half with just two wins fewer than their 2017 World Series champion and look to continue pulling away in the American League West when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Friday to start a three-game set. The Astros staggered slightly by losing four of seven before the All-Star break, but lead the West by five games over Seattle with Los Angeles 14 back.
Houston's Alex Bregman put a stamp on a outstanding first half of the season with a tie-breaking solo homer in the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday and brings a seven-game hitting streak into the series while teammate Yuli Gurriel has hit safely in 12 straight outings. Dallas Keuchel looks to continue his roll on the mound and takes a 10-2 career record against the Angels into Friday's clash against fellow left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who beat Houston on April 23 with seven scoreless innings. If Los Angeles is ever going to get back into the AL wild-card race it will probably have to start with a strong 10-game homestand coming out of the break, which includes series against the Chicago White Sox and Seattle. All-Star Mike Trout is 10-for-28 in his last eight games for the Angels and teammate Andrelton Simmons has hit safely in six straight contests, going 10-for-27 in that stretch.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (7-8, 3.75 ERA) vs. Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (7-5, 2.57)
Keuchel is unbeaten in his last seven starts (4-0), limiting opponents to one or zero earned runs in four of those outings, and has won three straight games. The 30-year-old Oklahoma native held Detroit to six hits over six scoreless innings on July 13 in his last start before the break and boasts a 1.35 ERA in three outings this month. Trout is 14-for-41 with a pair of homers against Keuchel, who owns a 3.67 career ERA versus the Angels over 16 appearances (15 starts).
Skaggs has already set a career high in wins along with strikeouts (105), and can set a club record for a left-handed pitcher with a seventh straight start allowing one or no earned runs Friday. The 27-year-old California native, who will match his career-high with his 18th start, has given up just four earned runs over 38 innings across his last six starts with 41 strikeouts. Jose Altuve is 7-for-18 versus Skaggs, who is 4-2 with a 2.76 ERA lifetime against the Astros.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia can break the tie with Ralph Houk (1,619) for 18th on major league baseball's all-time wins list.
2. The Astros lead the league with a plus-188 run differential and their starting pitchers own a major league-best 3.02 ERA.
3. Angels OF Kole Calhoun is 8-for-22 with four homers and six RBIs in his last six contests to raise his batting average 17 points to .187.
PREDICTION: Astros 5, Angels 2
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Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners Preview and Predictions 07-20-2018 in MLB
MLB Previews 19th July 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 07/19/2018
The Seattle Mariners aim to avoid matching a season-worst five-game losing streak when they host the Chicago White Sox on Friday for the opener of their three-game series. Seattle limped into the All-Star break by being outscored 29-13 over a four-game span but still possesses the fourth-best record (58-39) in the major leagues.
The Mariners are vying to halt the longest postseason drought of the four major sports as they haven't been a playoff participant since 2001. Jean Segura, who went 2-for-2 with a three-run homer in the All-Star Game, was just 5-for-26 with no blasts or RBIs in his final seven contests prior to the break. Chicago owns the third-worst record (33-62) in the majors and has struggled to a 14-33 road record. White Sox All-Star Jose Abreu is struggling this month, hitting just .156 with one homer and five RBIs.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH James Shields (4-10, 4.43 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Wade LeBlanc (5-1, 3.63)
Shields is 2-1 over his last four starts but was pounded for eight runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings by Houston in his one setback during the stretch. The 36-year-old is just 1-5 with a 6.14 ERA in eight road appearances (seven starts) this season, compared to a respectable 3.51 mark in 13 home starts. Shields gave up four runs and six hits over six frames in a loss on April 25 to fall to 5-8 with a 4.66 ERA in 19 career starts against the Mariners.
LeBlanc was unbeaten in 13 starts this season before giving up four runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings against Colorado in his final turn before the break. The 33-year-old has displayed stellar control with just four walks over 35 1/3 frames in his last six outings and 18 overall this season. LeBlanc gave up two runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings of relief on April 23 and owns a 2.87 ERA in four career appearances (one start) versus the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mariners have won five of their last six overall meetings with the White Sox but have lost the last three at home by a combined score of 26-3.
2. Chicago optioned OF Charlie Tilson to Triple-A Charlotte and plan to make a corresponding move prior to Friday's contest.
3. Seattle 3B Kyle Seager, who is 8-for-22 with three homers against Shields, has failed to go deep in his last 10 games.
PREDICTION: Mariners 5, White Sox 3
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