Astros' bullpen geared up for busy stretch that starts with Angels

When the Houston Astros host the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, they start a stretch of 15 games in 16 days.

With the Astros clinging to a two-game lead in the American League's West Division, manager Joe Espada will have to deploy his bullpen judiciously to keep arms healthy enough to stay on track for the postseason.

Espada acknowledged this stretch during last weekend's series against the Seattle Mariners. But he also noted the Astros' off-days Monday and last Thursday, which allowed him to work his relievers more aggressively against the Mariners.

When the Astros capped that series with a 3-2 loss to Seattle on Sunday, Espada utilized three of his top relievers -- setup men Steven Okert and Bryan Abreu and closer Josh Hader -- even though the Mariners led throughout the contest. The scheduled days off influenced his decision-making.

"It gives you some flexibility to go for it," Espada said. "I just wanted to keep us in the game.

"We saw what we did in Game 1 against (Mariners closer Andres) Munoz, and we were so close there in the eighth (inning) that I thought it would keep us in the game and we'd get that boost and get us through the finish line. But we just couldn't get it done."

Everyone in the bullpen is expected to be available for Tuesday's series opener against the Angels, which will feature right-hander Cristian Javier (1-3, 6.68 ERA) facing rookie right-hander George Klassen (1-1, 5.52 ERA).

For Javier, it marks his 11th appearance and seventh start of the season. He worked five scoreless innings in relief against the Angels on July 27, but he followed that with two losses and a 5.73 ERA in two starts this month.

Klassen gets his fifth start since making his major league debut on April 5. He earned his first win last time out against the Texas Rangers, when he allowed two runs on five hits with a career-high five strikeouts over a career-best six innings in a 5-2 victory on Wednesday.

Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson, whose rookie status remains intact through the end of this season, allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts while pitching into the sixth inning of the Angels' 3-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

That solid performance ensured at least one more turn in the rotation for Johnson, who is 0-1 with a 2.51 ERA this month. Johnson has allowed two runs or fewer in all three August starts.

"We talk about small gains every single time, and you can see it," said Angels manager Kurt Suzuki. "Definitely some encouraging results from R.J. I think his pitch mix has gotten better, and then the consistency of his pitches has gotten better."

--Field Level Media