Anderson stumbles vs. Astros, who 'have had our number'

HOUSTON -- After struggling to find his footing with his new club through the first several months of the season, left-hander Tyler Anderson started to turn things around in July.

He posted a respectable 3.34 ERA over a six-outing span and got his ERA under 5.00 for the first time since late May. But Anderson saw that solid stretch come to a screeching halt against the Astros on Saturday night, as he gave up a season-high seven runs in an 11-3 loss at Minute Maid Park. It dropped the Angels (58-60) to 3-9 against the Astros this season, including 1-5 in Houston. Their struggles against their division rival is nothing new, as they are 45-90 against the Astros going back to the start of the 2016 season.

Anderson, who joined the Angels on a three-year deal worth $39 million in the offseason, went 4 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and three walks and fell to 5-4 with a 5.28 ERA in 21 appearances this season. The eight-year veteran was sharp early, facing the minimum through the first three innings before the wheels fell off in a four-run fourth and a three-run fifth.

“The first three innings, his stuff was as good as he's had all year,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “The changeup was a difference-maker in those three innings. But his location in the fourth and fifth, it just seems like he lost his command.”

Jose Altuve led off the fourth with a five-pitch walk before Alex Bregman doubled on a first-pitch fastball, and Yordan Alvarez brought home the game’s first run with a single on an 0-2 cutter over the middle. Kyle Tucker followed with a three-run blast on a first-pitch changeup to put the Angels in a 4-0 hole.

Anderson said the Astros were aggressive the second time through the order and capitalized when he missed his location.

“I think the next time through, it was a good part of their lineup obviously and they’ve been swinging the bat well,” Anderson said. “They hit some good pitches, and I made a couple mistakes and didn’t get away with them in those situations.”

The Angels got a run back on an RBI single from Randal Grichuk off right-hander J.P. France in the fifth, but Anderson had another rough frame, this time with two outs. Altuve again sparked the rally with a double that he just pulled fair down the left-field line. Bregman and Alvarez followed with five-pitch walks to load the bases before Tucker plated a run with a single on a first-pitch cutter.

“The two to Tucker and the one to Bregman were on the first pitch,” Anderson said. “The one to Bregman came after a walk, and it’s like, ‘Shoot, I’m trying to throw a strike.’ And the two to Tucker, you tip your cap. They’re both good pitches that he hit. I feel like, in general, they’re an aggressive team.”

Tucker’s RBI single ended Anderson’s night, as reliever Dominic Leone was brought in to face Yainer Diaz. Leone, though, surrendered a two-run single and both runs were charged to Anderson. It was the first time Anderson allowed seven runs in a start since surrendering seven runs over six innings against the Phillies on May 12, 2022. But Anderson had a career year in ‘22, going 15-5 with a 2.57 ERA in 30 appearances (28 starts) with the Dodgers. His ERA this season is now more than double his ERA last year.

It also marked the second straight night that an Angels starter gave up seven runs to the Astros, as fellow lefty Reid Detmers surrendered seven runs over 2 1/3 innings in an 11-3 loss on Friday. It was also the ninth loss over the last 11 games for the Angels, who have won just two games since the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline.

They’ll look to avoid a series sweep on Sunday with rookie right-hander Chase Silseth taking the mound. It's not an easy task for Silseth, but he's pitched well with a 2.04 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings over his last three starts.

“They're good and certainly have had our number,” Nevin said. “It's no fun coming into one place and getting beat, but we’ve got a big one tomorrow. And the last time we were here, we got it handed to us for two days but came back to win that last ballgame on a Sunday. So we need a good one from Silseth, and the key is to get in front of them.”