Play: Houston Astros
Rating: 8*

The red hot Houston Astros had won seven straight before a 6-1 setback in the finale of a three-game set at Kansas City on Sunday. The Astros are 4-1 in their last five games following a loss and I expect them to bounce back in LA Monday night.

Matt Shoemaker (3-8, 4.43) takes the ball for the Angels. He's 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA in seven career appearances against the Astros but has struggled with Jose Altuve who is 6-for-14 with a pair of homers in previous meetings. Altuve leads the AL with a .347 batting average and ranks second with 103 hits, 18 stolen bases and a .425 on-base percentage. Shoemaker allowed three runs on eight hits in 7 1/3 innings of a 3-2 loss against Houston last week. Angels are 1-4 in Shoemaker's last five starts and 1-5 in his last six starts when their opponent scores two runs or fewer in their previous game.

The Astros turn to Collin McHugh (5-5, 4.70 ERA) who is 4-2 with a 2.82 ERA in eight career starts against the Halos. The right-hander allowed just two runs, five hits and a walk in seven innings while fanning six hitters when he took on the Angels home at Minute Maid Park last week.

Astros are 5-0 in McHugh's last five starts vs. Angels and 5-0 in the last five head-to-head meetings overall.