ANAHEIM -- It's becoming a bit of a theme for Angels right-hander Jaime Barria.

Barría has had trouble in the first inning before settling down, and it was again the case in a 10-0 loss to the Astros on Monday night at Angel Stadium. Barría gave up two runs in the first but got through 5 1/3 innings without allowing another run. The Astros blew it open against the bullpen.

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"He kicks it in, but he needs to come out more fire-blazing and not put himself in that position," Angels manager Joe Maddon said. "He kind of gets smacked in the jaw and then everything gets sharper. I've seen other starters do that before. You try to take them earlier [pregame] and try all sorts of crazy things. But I think it's just a focus thing. You have to be mentally focused and ready to make good pitches from the very first one."

Barría has posted a 9.90 ERA in the first inning in his 10 starts this season but otherwise has a 2.15 ERA in all other innings. Add it all up and he has a 4.07 ERA in 48 2/3 innings as a starter this season. He also allowed seven runs in six innings in relief before joining the rotation in late July, giving him a 4.77 ERA in 54 2/3 innings.

“I need to work on coming out better in the first inning,” Barría said through an interpreter. “The past couple times, they’ve made hard contact against me in the first inning and scored a couple runs. I need to work on my focus and be ready to go.”

He's continuing to pitch for a role with the Angels next season, especially considering he'll be out of Minor League options, so he must remain on the roster all year or risk being exposed to waivers. The Angels, however, haven't decided whether Barría will start next year or be used as a reliever.

"He's putting himself into the mix for conversation this winter," Maddon said. "I can't say for sure exactly how it's going to go. He'll be out of options, so that's a consideration. I think he continues to get better and is an open book and is adding on to what he's doing in a good way. He's an interesting cat. He's one of those guys who can legitimately help you in the bullpen or as a starter. So those are the kind of things you talk about in a conversation about him."

The right-hander was hit hard early, serving up a solo homer to Jose Siri on the third pitch of the game. He also allowed singles to Yordan Alvarez and Yuli Gurriel before giving up a run on a two-out single from Carlos Correa. But he escaped further damage by getting Marwin Gonzalez to fly out to left.

Barría pitched in and out of trouble the rest of the way, as he tied a career-high by allowing 10 hits. But he didn’t walk a batter and struck out five, which helped navigate his way out of several jams. He became the first Angels pitcher to allow 10 hits but give up two runs or fewer since Matt Shoemaker on July 1, 2016, against the Tigers.

Barría was lifted in the sixth after giving up a one-out single to Chas McCormick on his 90th pitch of the game. Reliever Jimmy Herget came in and retired Martín Maldonado and Siri to get out of the inning.

“A lot of teams I’ve faced recently have been really good teams that can swing the bat,” Barría said. “But I feel like I’ve been able to limit the damage for the most part. I just have to keep working.”

After Barría exited, relievers Andrew Wantz and Jose Marte each allowed four runs in an inning. Wantz gave up four in the eighth and Marte surrendered four in the ninth. And the Angels couldn’t get anything going offensively, getting shut out for the 13th time this year.

“They have good pitching,” Maddon said of the Astros. “They’re a good ballclub. Among all the teams I’ve seen so far, I think they’re the best one I’ve seen. They have a pretty complete roster.”