The Angels start a three-game series with the Astros at 5:10 p.m. Monday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The Angels (15-18) are in the AL West cellar, 4.5 games behind Oakland and 2.5 behind the Astros (18-16).
As of 1 p.m. PST Monday, the Angels hadn’t announced a starter, but oddsmakers installed the Astros as -160 home favorites. This would have been Alex Cobb’s start in the rotation, but he was placed on the 10-day injured list (blisters). José Suárez (0-2, 38.57 ERA last season) could get the start after being called up on Sunday, or Joe Maddon could go with a bullpen approach, though five relievers were used during Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Dodgers and the bullpen racked up 14 innings during the weekend.