Astros open final homestand, against Angels, with eye on division crown
In advance of their final homestand of the season, a seven-game set that starts Thursday night against the Los Angeles Angels, the Houston Astros muffed a shot to reduce their magic number to clinch the American League West by losing 4-0 to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
Despite dropping the rubber match of the three-game series to the Padres, the Astros (82-70) went 4-2 on their penultimate road trip that included a three-game sweep of the Angels.
Houston enters play Thursday with a five-game lead over the second-place Seattle Mariners in the AL West with 10 games to play. The Mariners will follow the Angels into Houston for a crucial three-game series beginning Monday.
Even in defeat on Wednesday, the Astros received more confirmation that left-hander Framber Valdez deserves a Game 1 start should they qualify for the postseason. He allowed one run over seven innings against the Padres and is 9-2 with a 2.04 ERA over his past 15 starts. The Astros are 13-2 in that stretch.
Known for his curveball-sinker mix, Valdez continues to wield a changeup that is increasingly becoming a viable third pitch.
“I thought that pitch (the changeup) played really well,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.
