With reinforcements on deck, Astros face Angels again

When rosters expand on Monday, the Houston Astros will be in position to welcome back potentially key cogs as they make a September playoff push.

The Astros need to get through their game Sunday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels -- the third of a four-game series. The teams split the first two, with the Angels winning 4-1 on Saturday.

Houston manager Joe Espada hinted that outfielders Jake Meyers and Zach Dezenzo, plus right-hander Luis Garcia, could join the club when rosters expand. Meyers (calf) is on the 10-day injured list, with Dezenzo (hand) and Garcia (elbow) on the 60-day IL.

The Astros would like to have the available to help stave off the Seattle Mariners in the American League West, with Houston holding a three-game lead despite an injury-marred campaign.

"Now the fact that we are turning the corner and getting some of those guys back to make that last push is very important," Espada said. "And I'm really pleased with where we're at."

All-Star right-hander Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Sunday.

Following a 6-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, during which he allowed six runs (two earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings, Brown is 2-3 with a 3.43 ERA and 59 strikeouts across 57 2/3 innings in his past 10 starts. Brown has 177 strikeouts this season, two shy of his career high (179) set in 2024.

Brown is 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in four career starts against the Angels. He did not factor into the decision of a 3-2, 10-inning road win over the Angels on June 20, despite allowing just one run and two hits in five innings.

Right-hander Jose Soriano (9-9, 3.85 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Angels. It will mark his career-high 28th start of the season and 14th on the road, where Soriano is 7-2 with a 2.69 ERA. Soriano earned a 4-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday after working 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing four hits and one walk with six strikeouts.

Soriano is 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA over five career appearances (one start) against the Astros. That start came on June 21 when he surrendered one run on three hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings in a 9-1 home win.

On Saturday, the Angels recorded four of their six hits in their three-run ninth inning. They hit one homer, a third-inning solo shot by Zach Neto.

The Angels enter play Sunday standing fifth in the majors with 189 home runs. They proved the value of a diversified offensive approach on Saturday by not relying just on the long ball.

"There are going to be times where we're rolling along, the guys are just passing the baton and we're not only hitting home runs, which is how we're built, but we're also contributing the good, quality at-bats," Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery said.

"Maybe the last few days it hasn't been as good as we'd like, but I think the guys are still working at it and we'll be good to go."

--Field Level Media