Astros searching for offense going into series finale with Angels

After a promising start to the month that began with the acquisition of three bats at the trade deadline, the Astros closed August with a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday that further highlighted their offensive struggles in recent weeks.

Despite facing two of the worst pitching staffs in the majors over the first six games of their current 10-game homestand, the Astros have amassed only 12 runs against the Angels and Colorado Rockies. Houston welcomed back slugger Yordan Alvarez following his 100-game stint on the injured list, but his return has done little to bolster an offense that added Carlos Correa, Jesus Sanchez and Ramon Urias at the deadline.

The woes with runners in scoring position continue to plague the Astros.

"Once we get those opportunities to drive some people in, we've got to stay in our plan and stay in control of our at-bats," Astros manager Joe Espada said. "When we try to do more and we expand and get out of our game plan, that's when you start seeing the lack of production."

The Astros appear set to reinstate center fielder Jake Meyers (calf) from the injured list in the coming days, at which point their lineup will be whole. Houston will likely need to find its offense to secure a postseason berth.

"We're going into September. It's go time," Espada said. "Pretty much that's it. This is an offense that's been good for a long time. So we'll get it going here. We'll put this month behind us. This is when we play our best, in September."

Right-hander Luis Garcia will make his season debut for the Astros against the Angels on Monday. It will mark his first appearance for the Astros since May 1, 2023, before Garcia underwent Tommy John surgery. Garcia suffered multiple setbacks during the rehab process late last season but rounded into form in recent weeks.

Garcia made nine rehab appearances (eight starts) across four levels in the minors, and finished 0-2 with a 3.30 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 30 innings.

Garcia is 3-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 11 career appearances (nine starts) against the Angels. He went 2-0 with a 3.04 ERA in four starts against the Angels in 2022.

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Angels in the series finale. He allowed six runs on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts over four innings in a 7-3 road loss to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. Kikuchi is winless over his last three starts, pitching to a 6.60 ERA.

Kikuchi is 1-5 with a 5.67 ERA in 15 career starts against the Astros, for whom he went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts last season following his acquisition at the trade deadline. He allowed two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts over seven innings on June 20 but did not factor into the decision of a 3-2 home loss to the Astros.

The Angels placed left-hander Tyler Anderson (left oblique strain) on the 15-day IL and signed right-hander Jose Urena to the active roster. Urena (0-1, 5.00 ERA with four teams this season) could fill a need as a long reliever or a starter for the Angels, who have been hit by injuries to their rotation.

"Right now, it would be bullpen. It would be length, it'd be protection," Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery said. "And then as we move forward, we'll figure out the exact role."

--Field Level Media