Play: Houston Astros
Rating: 8*

This looks like a good spot to back the Houston Astros as they host AL West rival the LA Angels at Minute Maid Park Friday night.

Lance McCullers (4-4 , 3.61 ERA) takes the ball for the Astros. He's 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA in five career starts against the Angels and he held the Halos to one run on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings while not factoring in the decision of a 3-2 victory on June 22. The 22 year old has held three of his last four opponents to just one run each and he's 3-2 with a 2.61 ERA in seven home starts on the year.

Matt Shoemaker (5-9, 4.08 ERA) will toe the slab for the Halos. He's coming off his first career shutout and registered a career-high 13 strikeouts against six hits and zero walks versus the White Sox his last time out. Angels are 4-17 in Shoemakers last 21 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance and the 29 year old has struggled on the road all year as he enters this contest with a 3-5 record behind a 5.01 ERA in nine road starts.

Angels are 2-9 in the last 11 meetings in Houston and 0-8 in the last eight meetings overall.