The set-up: The Astros have taken advantage of a favorable schedule to get back in the thick of the AL wild card race but last night wasted a strong outing by Mike Fiers (6 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs with 9 Ks) in a 2-0 loss. The 81-72 Astros are now 1 1/2 games out of the AL's second wild card spot with only nine games remaining. As for the 67-86 Angels, they rode a first-inning HR from Albert Pujols to a 2-0 victory and just their second win over the Astros in 13 meetings this season.

The pitching matchup: Alex Meyer (1-3, 5.63 ERA) with take the mound for the Angels and Doug Fister (12-12, 4.45 ERA) does so for the Astros. Meyer is a rookie making his sixth appearance and fifth start of the season. He was acquired from Minnesota on August 1 along with right-hander Ricky Nolasco, who won the series opener with seven shutout innings last night. Meyer earned his first career win on Sunday against the Blue Jays after tossing five scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory but his teams are 1-3 in his previous four starts in 2016. Fister has suffered through a miserable September, going 0-3 with a 12.42 ERA over four starts (Houston is 0-4).

The pick: The good news for Houston is two-fold. Fister owns a 2.72 ERA in 11 career starts against the Angels (including a 2.08 ERA in two outings this season) and the Astros are 11-2 vs the Angels in 2016. Houston is an 8* play.