Deadspin | Astros can't afford defeat against Kyle Hendricks, Angels

[ad_1] Sep 4, 2025; Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Angels beginning pitcher Kyle Hendricks (28) pitches in the course of the first inning in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Pictures The Houston Astros open a three-game collection with the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., on Friday evening nonetheless alive within the American League postseason race however needing some assist to keep away from lacking the playoffs for the primary time since 2016.

Houston (85-74) trails the Detroit Tigers (86-73) by one recreation for the ultimate AL wild-card spot and is 2 video games behind the Boston Crimson Sox (87-72) for the second wild card.

The Tigers, who're tied with Cleveland (86-73) for first place within the AL Central, end up with a collection in Boston. The Guardians, who maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker with Detroit, host the Texas Rangers this weekend.

The unhealthy information for Houston is that Detroit, Cleveland and Boston all maintain the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Astros due to profitable the regular-season collection by an identical 4-2 margins.

Nonetheless, the Astros remained optimistic after snapping a five-game shedding streak with an 11-5 victory over the Athletics on Thursday afternoon in West Sacramento, Calif.

"That is precisely what we would have liked," Houston supervisor Joe Espada mentioned. "We want that going ahead right here. We have got three massive video games in Anaheim, and hopefully that momentum carries over."

Added Astros first baseman Christian Walker, who went 2-for-5 with a house run and three RBIs, "Each one in every of these video games issues. That is no secret. We have got to win all of them, however I believe much more importantly hopefully get some momentum going for an additional necessary three video games in (Anaheim)."

Houston is 6-4 in opposition to Los Angeles (71-88), which clinched final place within the AL West with a 9-4 loss to visiting Kansas Metropolis on Thursday evening. Angels gamers have made no secret that they would not thoughts enjoying the function of spoilers in opposition to the Astros.

One other motivation for the Angels, who've dropped 11 of their previous 13 video games, is that their Friday starter, Kyle Hendricks (8-10, 4.79 ERA), could possibly be making the ultimate begin of his 12-year main league profession.

The 35-year-old right-hander helped pitch the Chicago Cubs to the 2016 World Sequence title and in addition gained the foremost league ERA crown that season. He denied a number of media studies this week that he had determined to hold up his spikes after this season.

"It takes a variety of laborious work," Hendricks informed the Orange County Register after yielding simply three hits and placing out 5 over seven shutout innings in a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. "How my recreation performs at this degree takes all the things out of me, so I actually concentrate on the day in and day trip. That is the place I try to maintain myself.

"I've nonetheless acquired yet one more (begin) within the season. I am going to try to end out as sturdy as I can. On the finish of the season, I am going to at all times sit down and simply see how I really feel, speak to the household, see the place everyone's at."

Hendricks is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three begins vs. the Astros this 12 months, leaving him with a profession 1-1 mark and a 3.91 ERA in 4 begins in opposition to Houston.

Jason Alexander (4-2, 4.83 ERA) will begin the collection opener for Astros. The 32-year-old right-hander went 3-0 with a 2.17 ERA in 5 August begins however is 0-1 with a 5.50 ERA in 4 begins since. He acquired roughed up by the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, when he yielded seven runs on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings.