Despite being hit harder of late, Yusei Kikuchi has a 15% swinging strike rate and a 30% whiff rate vs righties over the last month. He should see a righty heavy lineup and a veteran pitcher like Kikuchi could be tough on the inexperienced, younger hitters in the middle/bottom of this Angels order. Since adding those new faces to the lineup, LA has jumped to worst in MLB for strikeouts vs. lefties, allowing Chris Sale, Andrew Heaney and Cole Ragans to each go for 8+ strikeouts since mid-August. Kikuchi's been throwing 95-100 pitches routinely and Houston doesn't have an off day until Sept 26th, so it's the start of a long stretch for the bullpen, which could help him get deeper into this one.

Has there been a better move at the trade deadline? We're talking about Astros GM Dana Brown rolling the dice and dealing for Toronto's Yusei Kikuchi, beating all other GMs to the punch. There hasn't been a better deadline acquisition; the Astros have won all seven starts made by Kikuchi since the trade from the Blue Jays, with a 3.07 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across that span. Meanwhile, Angels Italian-born starter Samuel Aldegheri picked up his first MLB win in his most-recent start at the Rangers on Sunday after getting knocked around by the Mariners in his first MLB start. But the Halos just lost another series (in Minnesota), and Houston has yet to sew up the AL West. Play Astros on Run Line

Spencer Aldegheri is a great story from Italy (paisano!), but it wasn't that long ago I was watching him in Hi-A. Halos notorious for rushing young arms to The Show and Stros lineup is a big step up for him. I expect Kikuchi to keep humming along as he has since Houston tweaked him, with a 3.07 ERA as a Stro. This is the Stros time of year. Ten of LAA last 11 losses are by 2 runs or more. Serious talent imbalance here