Houston Astros (82-51) vs. los angeles angels (64-69) RHP Justin Verlander (13-8, 2.72) vs. LHP Andrew Heaney (7-8, 4.25) thursday, aug. 30, 2018 • minute maid park • houston, tx • 7:10 p.M. ct • at&t sportsnet sw • kbme 790 am • la ranchera 850 am GAME #134 ..................................home #66 tonight’s GAME: The defending World Series Champion he’s back: The Astros have won seven of eight games ABOUT THE RECORD Houston Astros, winners of seven of their last eight, since 2B Jose Altuve’s return from the DL on Aug. 21, Overall Record: .............................82-51 will continue this 10-day, 10-game homestand tonight while the offense has hit .315 (88x279) with 52 runs Home Record: ..............................35-30 with the opening game of this four-game series with scored (6.5 runs/game)...Altuve missed 21 total games --with Roof Open: .............................5-6 the Angels...RHP Justin Verlander, who is 4-0 in four (his first-ever DL stint), with Houston going 8-13...Al- --with Roof Closed: .......................30-24 starts against the Angels this season, will try to push tuve has hit .303 (10x33) with two doubles, one homer, --with Roof Open/Closed: .................0-0 that to 5-0 tonight opposite LHP Andrew Heaney. five RBI, one steal and a .378 OBP since his return. Road Record: ...............................47-21 Current Streak: ............................Won 1 thru 133: the band’s back together: Current Homestand: .........................2-1 At 82-51, the Astros have posted their CF George Springer re- Last Road Trip: .................................6-3 second-best 133-game record in club history, trailing turned to the starting lineup on Monday and has gone Last 5 Games: ..................................4-1 the 1998 Astros by one victory (83-50)...they are also 4x10 with a double, two RBI and four walks in his three Last 10 Games: ................................8-2 two games ahead of last year’s World Series winners games...with Springer back in the lineup, it meant the Series Record (prior to current series):..27-11-5 (80-53), a team that won 101 regular season games. Astros started the trio of Springer, 2B Jose Altuve and Sweeps: .......................................... 11-2 SS Carlos Correa for the first time together since June When Scoring 4 or More Runs: ....66-13 high five: For the fifth time this season, the Astros are 25, a span of 50 games without all three in the same When Scoring 3 or Fewer Runs: ..16-38 31-games above .500, their high-water mark in 2018... starting lineup (Astros went 28-22 in those contests). Shutouts: ........................................ 11-7 they’ve also been 31 games over on Friday (81-50), In One-Run Games: .....................18-23 two-bag bregman: In Two-Run Games: ....................... 11-9 Aug. 7 (73-42), July 24 (67-36) and July 21 (66-35). 3B Alex Bregman has hit 43 dou- vs. Left-Handed Starters: ..............31-20 bles and 25 home runs this season, both single-season vs. Right-Handed Starters: ...........51-31 the race is on!: The Astros enter this series with a career-highs...he has hit 38 of those doubles as a third During the Day: .............................29-15 2.5-game lead in the AL West, immediately ahead of baseman, a new single-season franchise record for At Night: ........................................53-36 the surging Athletics...Houston just completed their that position, previously held by Sean Berry (35 in When Scoring First: ......................53-16 season series with Oakland this week, taking two of 1996)...Bregman’s 43 doubles are the most doubles Opponent Scores First: .................29-35 three at Minute Maid Park, which secured the Astros in the American League this year. Outhit Opponent: ..........................65-13 a 12-7 record against the A’s in 2018. Outhit by Opponent: .....................10-36 AL West division GB Today’s Schedule (CT) the kid: 3B Alex Bregman is on a 10-game hitting Equal Hits: ........................................7-2 Houston (82-51) -- vs. Los Angeles (7:10p) When Hitting Home Run: ..............69-28 streak and has reached base safely in 26 straight No Home Runs: ............................13-23 Oakland (80-54) 2.5 vs. Seattle (9:05p) games, the longest active streak in MLB...over his last Walkoff Home Runs: .........................2-2 Seattle (74-59) 8.0 at Oakland (9:05p) 10 contests, Bregman is hitting .475 (19x40) with five Come-from-Behind Wins: .................. 33 doubles, two home runs, 11 RBI and a 1.293 OPS, and Largest Comeback: ............................. 5 up the ranks: RHP Justin Verlander, who became has raised his batting average to a season-high .293. Losses After Leading: ........................ 26 the 114th pitcher in Major League history to reach 200 Last At-Bat Wins: ............................... 12 wins on Aug. 19 at OAK, has also been moving up the the great white: IF Tyler White has been the Astros Largest Blown Lead: ............................ 5 MLB strikeout leaderboards this season...he entered best performer since the All-Star Break, as he has hit Extra-Inning Games: .........................5-6 the year ranking 42nd in strikeouts in Major League .345 (30x87) with 14 extra-base hits (4 doubles, 2 tri- Different Batting Orders: .................. 116 history and has moved up 18 spots in 2018. ples, 8 homers), 22 RBI and a 1.113 OPS in 24 games. After Six Innings: strikeouts, all-time, mlb history (#21-26) al ops leaders, post all-star break Lead: 64-7 ......Tied: 9-10 ......Trail: 9-34 After Seven Innings: 21. Cy Young - 2798 24. Justin Verlander - 2645 1. M. Trout, LAA: 1.234 4. T. White, HOU: 1.113 Lead: 68-5 ......Tied: 6-7 ........Trail: 8-39 22. Frank Tanana - 2773 25. Chuck Finley - 2610 2. J. Martinez, BOS: 1.125 5. J. Gallo, TEX: 1.052 After Eight Innings: 23. David Cone - 2668 26. Tom Glavine - 2607 3. M. Chapman, OAK: 1.114 6. J. Abreu, CWS: 1.045 Lead: 72-5 ......Tied: 5-7 ........Trail: 5-39 Astros vs. angels (2018): punching tickets: RHP Justin Verlander ranks sec- vintage keuchel: LHP Dallas Keuchel has found his Overall: .............................................8-4 ond in the AL in strikeouts this season (229), trailing form over his last 14 starts, posting a 7-2 record with a At Minute Maid Park: ........................1-2 only teammate RHP Gerrit Cole (234)...the two rank 2.74 ERA (27ER/88.2IP) and 11 quality starts...he was At the Coliseum: ...............................7-2 Astros vs. angels (all-time): in the top 10 in strikeouts in franchise history for a in line for yesterday’s win as well, but did not factor into Overall: .........................................63-50 single season. the decision after allowing three runs in 6.0 innings. astros strikeout leaders in a single season (#5-10) Record in Houston: .......................30-23 Record in Anaheim: ......................33-27 5. Nolan Ryan (1982): 245 8. Mike Scott (1987): 233 yesterday’s roster move: Prior to yesterday’s game, 6. Don Wilson (1969): 235 9. Larry Dierker (1969): 232 the Astros placed RHP Charlie Morton on the 10-day today’s media availability 7. Gerrit Cole (2018): 234 10. J. Verlander (2018): 229 DL with right shoulder discomfort...to take his place on The Astros will hold a press conference to- the active roster, RHP Chris Devenski was reinstated day at 3 p.m. with Owner & Chairman Jim skippering: Astros manager AJ Hinch has posted a from the 10-day DL. Crane, President of Baseball Operations and 353-266 managerial record in his three-plus years at General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Manager the helm...he ranks fifth in Astros history in managerial military appreciation night: Tonight, the Astros and AJ Hinch in attendance...following the press conference, the clubhouse will open to media wins and is just two wins shy of tying Harry Walker AT&T will recognize our country’s servicemen and and will remain open until 4 p.m...manager AJ (355-353) for fourth on the all-time list. women during AT&T Military Appreciation Night...a Hinch will be available in the Astros dugout at Joint Service Color Guard will present our nation’s approximately 4 p.m...Jim Crane and Hous- yesterday’s walk off: The Astros won in dramatic colors prior to the National Anthem and representatives ton Open Tournament Director Colby Calla- fashion yesterday, on a walkoff home run by DH Tyler from all five branches of the military will present a giant way will also be made available on the field White, to secure a 5-4 victory and a three-game series American flag in the outfield in a pregame ceremony. today at 4:30 p.m...additionally, PGA legend and former Ryder Cup Captain Hal Sutton win over the Athletics...3B Alex Bregman also had will be on the field with the Ryder Cup Tro- a big game, reaching four times in a 2x4 day, with a happy birthday: The Astros would like to wish bench phy at 4:45 p.m. double and two walks. coach Joe Espada a happy 43rd birthday today. UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (ALL TIMES CENTRAL) Date Time Opponent Pitchers Television Friday, Aug. 31 7:10 Los Angeles (AL) LHP Framber Valdez (2-0, 0.96) vs. RHP Jaime Barria (8-8, 3.67) AT&T SportsNet SW Saturday, Sept. 1 6:10 Los Angeles (AL) TBA vs. RHP Felix Peña (1-4, 4.52) AT&T SportsNet SW Sunday, Sept. 2 7:05 Los Angeles (AL) RHP Gerrit Cole (12-5, 2.85) vs. TBA ESPN All Astros games are broadcast in English on SportsTalk 790 AM in Houston, the flagship station of the Astros Radio Network.