this los angeles angels Let’s hope the all-star game ends in better shape than they entered
They’ll get their first chance to turn things around when they host the game houston astros In the opener of the three-game series Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.
this Angel Losing five games in a row and nine of their last ten has cost them the wild-card spot they briefly held at the end of June
Los Angeles coach Phil Nevin expects second half of season to be clean for team Angel
“Honestly, six days to get out of this situation is pretty good,” Nevin said before half-time.
this Angel‘ The recent downturn has coincided with a string of injuries
Most recently, three-time American League MVP Mike Trout went down on July 3 with a fractured hamate, an injury that will keep him out for at least this month.
The injury actually started on June 15, when shortstop Zach Neto sat out with an oblique injury and hasn’t played since. That same day, versatile infielder Gio Useira went down with a broken pelvis, ending his season.
Neto and Usheira have since been added to the injured list, as has second baseman Brandon Drury (shoulder), and third baseman Anthony Rendon has missed 12 games with a forearm hit by a pitch. game and missed the last three games before halftime after a foul on his calf
“We’ve had a tough time the last two weeks for a number of reasons,” Nevin said. “At the end of the day, we didn’t play well. We had injuries, but we just didn’t play well. We were better than that.”
this astros The Seattle Mariners had lost three of four games before the All-Star break, but they were just two games behind the Texas Rangers for first place in the AL West
Houston also faces some injuries, namely second baseman Jose Altuve and left fielder Jordan Alvarez, both sidelined with oblique injuries.
astros Right-hander Jose Uquidi is also out with right shoulder inflammation.
‘I think the best days are ahead’ astros manager Dusty Baker said. “The best days are ahead since we lost all these guys, the key is to get them back, but get them ready. You don’t want them back when you’re not ready. … …they’re on their way; they’re really close. We just have to win some games and stay where we are until we win them back.
this Angel Plans to send right-hander Shohei Ohtani to the mound for series opener
Ohtani (7-4, 3.32 ERA) allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings in an 8-5 loss to the San Diego Padres on July 4, losing his most recent game .
this astros Planning to play against right-hander JP France
France (4-3, 3.26) have won their past two games, most recently in a 6-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on July 5, allowing three runs in six innings and 6 hits.
— On-site media