Angels are on fire with back-to-back sweeps

The Angels have completed back-to-back sweeps for the first time this season. Going undefeated since the All-Star break, the Angels are moving up in the AL Wild Card race.

The Angels have been on fire since the All-Star break. They’ve completed sweeps of the Chicago White Sox and the division leading Texas Rangers. The Angels went from 18 games back-of Texas in June, to 11.5 as of yesterday.

In the month of July, the Angels have score 110 runs, including two double-digit games. They are clearly one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Let’s just hope that it isn’t too little to late for a playoff push.

The Angels are closing in on third place in the AL West, sitting just 5 games back-of Seattle. They are 9 games under .500 and have plenty of momentum heading into the next series versus Houston on Friday.

While the back-to-back sweeps provides a huge confident boost for the Angels, the Houston Astros could destroy all the positive vibes the Halos are displaying with another sweep. The Angels are 10 games back of a wild card spot for the AL, so again, the margin for error is slim.

Houston is a team that has had the Angels number this season. The Astros have won eight straight games versus the Angels, including back-to-back sweeps of their own.

Similar to the series versus Texas, this series is important. The Angels must continue winning games to close in on the AL West before August. Assuming the Angels can win multiple games in this series they can possibly be two-three games back of Seattle for third place in the AL West.

However, Houston is an entirely different animal for the Angels. In fact, the Angels have only won one game versus the Astros this season. Albert Pujols and Mike Trout are going to have to have great outings versus the Houston pitching staff. The Angels have an average of 3.75 runs a game against the Astros this season, While Houston has lit the Angels up for an average of 6.375 runs a game.

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The Angels pitching staff must be on point versus Jose Altuve and company. Altuve has a four-game multiple hitting streak coming into this series. Altuve has been a thorn in the side of the Angels this season.

The bright-side for the Halos could be the record of the Astros following the All-Star break (3-3). The Astros are coming off a west-coast road trip in which they lost one game versus the Mariners and two to the A’s.

The first game on Friday the Halos are placing Matt Shoemaker on the mound versus Lance McCullers. McCullers is 4-4 with an ERA 3.61; however, has lost his last two starts.

Next: Halos hurt but winning games

Shoemaker is coming off his first shutout and the AL Player of the week award. The Angels should be able to win one to two games in this series. The series kicks-off Friday in H-town.