The Astros should capitalize on a favorable pitching matchup. Cristian Javier is lined up on full rest and profiles well against an Angels roster that has struck out 28% of the time through the first three games. Javier’s fastball/slider mix neutralizes right-handed thunder from Mike Trout and Nolan Schanuel, and the back end of Houston’s bullpen (Abreu-Okert-Romano look-alike tandem) is rested after light work on the 28th. Jack Kochanowicz makes his 2026 debut for Los Angeles with a career 1.75 WHIP and shaky command. Houston’s right-heavy order—Altuve, Correa, Diaz—matches up ideally against the tall right-hander’s below-average slider. Expect an early crooked number in the second when Kochanowicz cycles through the lineup the first time. L.A. will still score; Trout is scorching (two homers Saturday) and Zach Neto’s new leg kick has unlocked gap power, so they scratch single runs in the 3rd, 4th and 5th. But once Javier exits, Steven Okert provides a left-on-left bridge to Bryan Abreu, muting any late rally. Yordan Alvarez’s opposite-field blast off a Kochanowicz changeup in the fourth stretches the lead, and José Altuve legs out a two-run double in the sixth to push it to 5-3. Insurance comes on a Brice Matthews pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth. Houston evens the series behind steadier pitching and timely power, while the Angels’ first trip through the rotation exposes the back-end depth issues many forecast in camp.

Probable Pitchers

J. Kochanowicz Angels

--- - ERA

- K

T. Imai Astros

None-None 7.27 ERA

None K

Los Angeles Angels — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
Zach Neto	SS	.200	2	3	.400	.667
Mike Trout	DH	.462	2	3	.650	.923
Bryce Teodosio	PR	.000	0	0	.000	.000
Jorge Soler	RF	.188	1	5	.350	.438
Yoán Moncada	3B	.071	0	0	.316	.071
Jo Adell	CF	.313	0	1	.389	.313
Josh Lowe	LF	.133	1	3	.188	.400
Logan O'Hoppe	C	.273	0	0	.333	.273
Adam Frazier	2B	.000	0	0	.250	.000

Houston Astros — Roster

Player	Pos	AVG	RBI	OBP	SLG
Jeremy Peña	SS	.200	0	.200	.200
Jake Meyers	CF	.250	2	.333	.375
Nick Allen	2B	.000	0	.000	.000
Jose Altuve	DH	.231	1	.444	.308
Carlos Correa	3B	.250	2	.333	.250
Joey Loperfido	LF	.333	0	.333	.500
Christian Walker	1B	.308	3	.438	.538
Cam Smith	RF	.077	0	.294	.077
Christian Vázquez	C	.500	2	.667	.500

Scoring Plays

▼ 2

Christian Vázquez singles on a line drive to right fielder Jorge Soler. Joey Loperfido scores. Christian Walker scores. Cam Smith to 3rd.

0-2

▼ 2

Yordan Alvarez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jorge Soler. Cam Smith scores. Christian Vázquez to 3rd.

0-3

▼ 2

Isaac Paredes reaches on a throwing error by third baseman Yoán Moncada. Christian Vázquez scores. Yordan Alvarez to 3rd.

0-4

▲ 3

Jorge Soler doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Yordan Alvarez. Zach Neto scores. Mike Trout scores. Nolan Schanuel scores.

3-4

▲ 3

Jo Adell singles on a line drive to left fielder Yordan Alvarez. Jorge Soler scores.

4-4

▲ 4

Zach Neto homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Travis d'Arnaud scores.

6-4

▼ 5

Christian Walker doubles (3) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Jorge Soler. Isaac Paredes scores. Jose Altuve scores.

6-6

▼ 8

Isaac Paredes doubles (3) on a line drive to right fielder Jorge Soler. Cam Smith scores. Yordan Alvarez scores.

6-8

▼ 8

Jose Altuve doubles (1) on a sharp line drive to center fielder Jo Adell. Nick Allen scores.

6-9

▲ 9

Nolan Schanuel singles on a ground ball to right fielder Cam Smith, deflected by first baseman Christian Walker. Adam Frazier scores. Mike Trout to 3rd.

7-9

Los Angeles Angels — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	HR	AVG	OPS
Zach NetoSS	2	2	1	2	3	0	1	.200	1.067
Mike TroutDH	4	1	1	0	1	2	0	.462	1.573
Bryce TeodosioPR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000
Jorge SolerRF	5	1	1	3	0	3	0	.188	.788
Yoán Moncada3B	4	0	0	0	1	1	0	.071	.387
Jo AdellCF	4	0	2	1	0	0	0	.313	.702
Josh LoweLF	4	0	0	0	0	4	0	.133	.588
Logan O'HoppeC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.273	.606
Adam Frazier2B	3	1	0	0	1	1	0	.000	.250
Totals	33	7	7	7	8	13	1

BATTING

2B: Soler (1, Imai); d'Arnaud (1, Muñoz, R).

HR: Neto (2, 4th inning off Muñoz, R, 1 on, 1 out).

TB: Adell 2; d'Arnaud 2; Neto 4; Schanuel; Soler 2; Trout.

RBI: Adell (1); Neto 2 (3); Schanuel (5); Soler 3 (5).

2-out RBI: Adell.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: d'Arnaud; Moncada 2.

GIDP: Trout.

Team RISP: 5-for-14.

Team LOB: 7.

FIELDING

E: Moncada (2, throw).

a-Flied out for d'Arnaud in the 8th.

1-Ran for Schanuel in the 9th.

Houston Astros — Batting

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	AVG	OPS
Jeremy PeñaSS	5	0	0	0	0	2	.200	.400
Jake MeyersCF	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250	.708
Nick Allen2B	0	1	0	0	0	0	.000	.000
Jose AltuveDH	3	1	1	1	2	1	.231	.752
Carlos Correa3B	4	0	0	0	1	0	.250	.583
Joey LoperfidoLF	5	1	1	0	0	2	.333	.833
Christian Walker1B	3	1	1	2	1	0	.308	.976
Cam SmithRF	2	2	0	0	1	0	.077	.371
Christian VázquezC	2	1	1	2	1	0	.500	1.167
Totals	31	9	7	8	9	6

BATTING

2B: Loperfido, J (2, Kochanowicz); Paredes 2 (3, Kochanowicz, Pomeranz); Walker, C (3, Silseth); Altuve (1, Pomeranz).

TB: Altuve 2; Alvarez, Y; Loperfido, J 2; Paredes 4; Vázquez, C; Walker, C 2.

RBI: Altuve (1); Alvarez, Y (2); Paredes 2 (4); Vázquez, C 2 (2); Walker, C 2 (3).

2-out RBI: Walker, C 2; Paredes 2; Alvarez, Y; Altuve.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Smith; Correa 2; Loperfido, J; Altuve 2.

SAC: Vázquez, C.

Team RISP: 5-for-16.

Team LOB: 9.

BASERUNNING

SB: Alvarez, Y (1, 2nd base off Pomeranz/O'Hoppe).

FIELDING

DP: (Correa-Paredes-Walker, C).

1-Ran for Paredes in the 8th.

Los Angeles Angels — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	PC-ST	ERA
Jack Kochanowicz	4.0	4	6	5	5	3	94-55	11.25
Chase Silseth	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	14-10	0.00
Sam Bachman	2.0	0	0	0	2	2	34-18	0.00
Drew Pomeranz(L, 0-1)	1.0	2	3	3	2	0	17-10	13.50

Houston Astros — Pitching

Pitcher	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	PC-ST	ERA
Tatsuya Imai	2.2	3	4	4	4	4	0	74-36	13.50
Roddery Muñoz	2.0	3	2	2	1	4	1	47-30	6.75
Christian Roa	0.1	0	0	0	0	1	0	3-3	6.75
Steven Okert	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	15-9	0.00
AJ Blubaugh(W, 1-1)	2.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	23-17	2.08
Bryan Abreu(H, 1)	0.1	0	1	1	2	0	0	14-4	27.00
Bryan King(S, 1)	0.2	1	0	0	0	2	0	18-14	3.38

Game Info

Umpires: Home Plate: Brennan Miller; First Base: Chris Conroy; Second Base: John Tumpane; Third Base: Ben May

Venue: Daikin Park, Houston

Weather: 73°F, Roof Closed

Wind: 0 mph, None

Los Angeles Angels — News

Angels Re-Sign Taijuan Walker To Minor League Deal

Walker returns to LAA's organization after opting out, though his 9.13 ERA and 1.91 WHIP across 3 starts with Philadelphia this season suggest he's depth filler rather than a rotation solution for a 27-42 team.

Taijuan Walker

Los Angeles Angels

Angels Select Logan Porter From Minor League Deal

Porter joins a LAA roster batting .268 with a -43 run differential (5th in AL West) after just five days in the organization; the 26-42 Angels have cycled through multiple depth catchers this season without stabilizing offense.

Logan Porter

Los Angeles Angels

Angels Re-Sign Shaun Anderson To Minor League Deal

Anderson carries a 5.94 ERA and 0.369 xwOBA with no 2026 MLB innings, fitting LAA's pattern of cycling waiver-eligible arms through Salt Lake. The Angels sit 25-42 (-52 run diff) and have already lost Kochanowicz to Tommy John surgery, leaving Soriano (2.96 ERA) as their only reliable rotation anchor.

Shaun Anderson

Los Angeles Angels

Jack Kochanowicz To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Kochanowicz is lost until mid-2027, further depleting LAA's rotation depth behind Soriano (2.96 ERA) and Detmers (4.26 ERA). The Angels (25-42, -52 run diff) are already 5th in AL West and cannot afford to lose developmental arms during a basement finish.

Jack Kochanowicz

Los Angeles Angels

MLB Over-35 Hitters Face Steepest Production Drop-Off in Decades

Age-related decline in MLB hitting has accelerated beyond historical norms, but current roster construction shows teams still value veteran bats: Angels have Mancini (.070 AVG in limited action), Rangers deal Martin Jr. to Rockies at 31, and Astros explicitly refuse to trade 31-year-old Alvarez despite his continued elite production (.316 AVG, 0.493 xwOBA).

Texas Rangers

Los Angeles Angels

Colorado Rockies

Houston Astros — News

Astros Designate Ryan Weiss For Assignment

Weiss logged 0 IP with a 6.65 ERA, making this a depth chart pruning for a Houston rotation already dealing with Houston's 31-39 record and -38 run differential.

Ryan Weiss

Houston Astros

Astros Exploring Outfield And Bullpen Upgrades

Houston sits 31-39 with a -38 run differential, four games from a Wild Card spot, but upgrading around Yordan Alvarez (.316 AVG, .489 OBP, 22 HR) and Jeremy Peña signals GM Dana Brown still believes in competing rather than sellers' deadline positioning.

Yordan Alvarez

Jeremy Peña

Houston Astros

Yordan Alvarez In MVP Contention With .316 AVG, 22 HR Through 69 Games

Alvarez's .489 OBP and .636 SLG (1.125 OPS) put him on pace for a triple crown; his xwOBA of .489 suggests the production is legitimate. Houston sits 31-39 with a -38 run differential, meaning individual brilliance won't offset the team's 4th-place standing in the MVP voting calculus.

Yordan Alvarez

Houston Astros

Astros select Raynel Delgado from minor league trade with Rays

Delgado arrives as Houston adds depth to an infield while sitting 31-39 with a -38 run differential, but his promotion does not address the rotation issues that have allowed 353 runs this season.

Tampa Bay Rays

Houston Astros