Clips (October 2, 2016)

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1 October 2, 2016 Page 1 of 17 Clips (October 2, 2016)

2 October 2, 2016 Page 2 of 17 FROM THE LA TIMES (Page 3) Today s Clips Contents Jered Weaver says he wants to pitch next season before Angels fall to Astros It s last call for Vin Scully, and Giants could make it a historic one FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 7) Jered Weaver disappointed with the way his Angels season ends Final: Angels Skaggs looks good in 3-0 loss to Houston On deck: Astros at Angels, Sunday, 12 p.m. FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 10) Trout s quest for enters final day Skaggs wraps first post-surgery season healthy Weaver done for 16, not for good Angels win streak stalls at 4 Angels call on Chacin for season finale vs. Astros FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 16) McHugh goes 7 2/3 innings, Astros beat Angels 3-0

3 October 2, 2016 Page 3 of 17 FROM THE LA TIMES Jered Weaver says he wants to pitch next season before Angels fall to Astros Pedro Moura Jered Weaver wanted desperately to make one last start this season, he said, but his increasingly sore back would not comply for a spot in the rotation on Sunday. So he called it a year, and possibly a career as an Angel. As much as I wanted to, as much as I was looking forward to it, my back is not responding as quickly as it did when I had this injury before, he said Saturday, before the Angels 3-0 loss to Houston at Angel Stadium. It hurts me to say that I won t be able to make that start. Weaver intends to pitch next season, but acknowledged that it may not happen here. The five-year, $85- million extension he signed at a discount in 2011 expires at the end of the World Series, and the 5.06 earned-run average he logged this season does not inspire confidence for the future. But both sides say they will discuss a return. The gangly, trenchant right-hander, turning 34 Tuesday, arrived in Anaheim in 2006 after a two-year ascent from Long Beach State and quickly reached levels few outsiders predicted. He had a 2.56 ERA as a rookie. By age 27, he was one of the sport s elite starters, an All-Star in three consecutive seasons. During that three-year peak, from 2010 to 2012, Weaver averaged 216 innings and led the American League with a 2.73 ERA. Then came the precipitous decline, particularly in terms of velocity. In 2010, he averaged more than 90 mph with each fastball and reached as high as 95. In 2015, he did not reach 89 mph with any of his 800- plus fastballs. The drop necessitated alterations to his approach. He began to rely heavily on his changeup and both breaking balls. This season, though, his velocity was so low during spring training that rival executives wondered if he d even pitch. In one spring start against the Dodgers, his fastball averaged 79 mph. He said he was stretching more than before and hoped the increased flexibility would allow him to recoup the lost velocity. He gained a bit back, but not enough, and most of his 31 starts were battles, though the Angels did manage to win 16 of those games. As rough as spring training was for Jered, trying to get where he needed to be with the velocity very slow in coming, I know that was frustrating for Jered and for all of us, Manager Mike Sciosciasaid. But, as the season picked up, there s no doubt in any of our minds that he could be a very good major league pitcher. And I think he feels it too. Weaver, ever stubborn, discussed the decision with Scioscia over the weekend. Asked what was said between the longtime colleagues, Weaver quickly said, The normal 10-word conversation. I don t think he s touching on the things he wants to yet, Weaver said. Me and him are kind of the same. We don t like the light on us, don t want to think that this is the last go-round, blah-blah-blah. But

4 October 2, 2016 Page 4 of 17 I think he knows that I definitely want to go out there. He knows that, but he s also looking out for my well-being, my future. Presented with Sunday s circumstances, Scioscia said, the decision was not difficult. He said he did not want to put Weaver at risk, in the same way he did not want to rule out a return. There s a lot of water under that bridge, Scioscia said. We ve had some really good times. We ve had some rough times. But, all through it, very few guys have taken the mound here at Angel Stadium with the same competitive fire that Jered has. It s been fun to watch. Weaver noted he had never been a free agent. He does not know what to expect. It s all I ve known for 11 years, he said. The Angels have been an amazing organization. I would love to stay here. But my options are open. I don t even know if the Angels want to take a shot on me or any of that. Short hops Left-hander Tyler Skaggs final start this season lasted 12/3 innings. Returning from three weeks sidelined with a strain in his forearm, he threw 21 balls among 45 pitches, walked two men and did not strike out anyone. Across all levels of the Angels organization, he threw 89 innings after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Angels did not muster a baserunner against Houston starter Collin McHugh until there were two outs in the fifth inning. Andrelton Simmons dribbled a single up the middle but was stranded at second. The Angels had three more hits. Mike Trout remained in the game after taking a changeup to his left knee in the sixth. Jered Weaver says he wants to pitch next season before Angels fall to Astros Bill Shaikin It will be a very pleasant good afternoon, and a wonderfully fitting one too: Vin Scully, calling his final game, with the playoffs on the line for his boyhood team. After Scully delighted us with a career for the ages, the baseball gods have rewarded him with a finale for the ages. Some voices go hoarse without ever calling a clincher. In the final four games of his career, Scully could call two. In his farewell game at Dodger Stadium, Scully called the game in which the Dodgers, his employers of 67 years, clinched thenational League West. On Sunday, his last day behind the microphone, Scully will call the game in which the San Francisco Giants could clinch a wild-card spot 80 years to the day after he says he walked past a laundry, saw the score of a World Series game in which the New York Giants had gotten pummeled, and declared his allegiance for the Giants. Wouldn t that be unbelievable? Scully said late Saturday. The whole idea is a fairy tale.

5 October 2, 2016 Page 5 of 17 This year s Giants were left for dead, their obituary already written, held for publication until the final day of the season, when their collapse could be quantified. Instead, the Giants will report to the ballpark Sunday with suitcases in hand, and the guarantee that their season will extend beyond Sunday. No matter what, we re traveling, San Francisco Manager Bruce Bochy said, smiling broadly. If the Giants lose and the St. Louis Cardinals win Sunday, the Giants fly to St. Louis for a Monday tiebreaker. Any other outcome, and the Giants fly to New York for the National Leaguewild-card game Wednesday. And what a marvelously ornery game that could be. For the Giants, Madison Don t Look at Me Bumgarner. For the Mets, Noah Syndergaard, who threw at Alcides Escobar in last year s World Series and dared the Kansas City Royalsto do something about it. This was how the Giants started their World Series run two years ago: Bumgarner, on the road, in the wild-card game. Even-year magic? That was already on display Saturday, when a kid named Ty Blach earned his first major league victory, in his second start. Blach beat Clayton Kershaw and got two hits off him too, becoming the first Giants rookie to beat the Dodgers with at least eight scoreless innings since Dennis Cook in That was the last year of Dodgers magic, the fall of 88. Now Scully is 88, and one day from retirement. The Giants provided a golf cart and a police escort for Scully and his wife, Sandi, to use in navigating the crowded basement concourse after the game. Dodgers fans and Giants fans alike applauded as he passed, screamed their thanks, and hoisted their cellphones high to take pictures and videos. At one point, Scully stopped to greet Buster Posey, the Giants catcher. Before Saturday s game, in the broadcast booth, Scully had enjoyed a visit from Willie Mays. Posey said he might just stop by on Sunday. I d like to run up and say hello, he said. Beyond Sunday, Posey will play on. Scully will go home. In 1951, Russ Hodges yelled, The Giants win the pennant! In 2016, Scully s final words could include these: The Giants win the wild card! Manager shuffle Rick Renteria managed the Chicago Cubs in By all accounts, he did a fine job, and the Cubs fired him only because Joe Maddon became available.

6 October 2, 2016 Page 6 of 17 Hard to fault the Cubs, but Renteria deserved a second chance. He ll get one, with the crosstown White Sox, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The Sox will part ways with Robin Venturaand promote Renteria from their coaching staff, the Sun-Times reported Saturday. Managers who soon could be out of work include Brian Snitker of the Atlanta Braves, Walt Weiss of the Colorado Rockies and John Gibbons of the Toronto Blue Jays. A name to watch: Bud Black, who bided his time in the Angels front office this year after failing to reach agreement on a contract to manage the Washington Nationals. Dusty Baker got that job and led the Nationals to their third division title in five years the first time under Davey Johnson, the next time under Matt Williams, and this time under Baker. Washington opens the division series at home Friday, against Kershaw and the Dodgers. The Nationals are looking to become the first Washington team to win a postseason series since the Senators won the 1924 World Series. Hall of Famer Walter Johnson started twice pitching a 12-inning complete game and a nine-inning complete game and came out of the bullpen to work the final four innings and win the clincher. Pitching roulette You never know applies to physical examinations too. The Dodgers did not like what they saw in Hisashi Iwakuma s physical last winter, so they backed away from signing him to a guaranteed contract. Iwakuma led the Seattle Mariners in games started this season. The Dodgers instead signed Kenta Maeda, who had issues arise in his physical, to an incentive-based deal. Maeda led the Dodgers in games started. The Angels did not like what they saw in Christian Friedrich s physical, so they got permission from the commissioner s office to renounce their waiver claim. Friedrich led the San Diego Padresin games started. There might be something to the notion of not throwing hard enough to get hurt. Jered Weaver led the Angels in games started; his average fastball velocity of 83 mph was the slowest of any nonknuckleballer, according to Fangraphs. The Mets touted their high-speed starting rotation, but Syndergaard was the only fireballer to last into October. Bartolo Colon led the Mets in games started; he and Iwakuma averaged 88 mph on their fastballs, joining Weaver in the slowest seven among qualifying starters. Maeda, at 90 mph, ranked 63 rd among the 76 qualifying starters. Win like Vin So many beautiful tributes to Scully have focused on his incomparable broadcasting skills. But everyone who has known him has a story to share about his kindness, like the time my love s son had to miss a

7 October 2, 2016 Page 7 of 17 Dodgers game because he was sick. Scully left a delightful get-well message on voice mail Hi, Sam, this is Vin Scully that took him one minute to do and left someone else with a lifetime memory. Scully showed up at Dodger Stadium day in and day out with a smile on his face and a friendly greeting for all, from the elevator operator to the press-box attendant and even the sportswriters. We can t all spin a story like Scully. But we can all resolve to greet the day with a smile, sing a few bars out loud, and do something nice for someone else, just because. For Scully, who wants to be remembered as a good man rather than a good broadcaster, that might be our greatest tribute of all. FROM OC REGISTER Jered Weaver disappointed with the way his Angels season ends By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER ANAHEIM As a pitcher who took pride in his ability to take the ball, Jered Weaver was particularly disappointed in the way his season and possibly his Angels career has come to an end. The day before he was scheduled to start the Angels season finale, Weaver said he couldn t pitch because his stiff back hasn t responded. It hurts me to say I won t be able to make that start tomorrow, Weaver said before Saturday s game. I had a bunch of friends and family coming down. I definitely wanted to make that start, but it s not going to happen. Weaver, who turns 33 on Tuesday, is at the end of his Angels contract, but he says that he s not at the end of his career. Weaver emphatically said he has no plans to retire. My body has been responding, Weaver said. Everything is starting to get where I know it can be. Now that I can have answers to what I need to do, I m excited to start the process of having an offseason to kind of do what I need to do to get back to normal. Weaver s insistence that he can continue to be effective was precisely why he wasn t willing to risk his long-term health for the sake of one more start this season. After he came out of Monday s game with tightness in his back, Weaver said he had no concern that he would miss Sunday s start. He had a similar back issue twice before and both times it resolved without much issue. This week, though, it didn t.

8 October 2, 2016 Page 8 of 17 Weaver threw a bullpen session on Friday and didn t feel right. He said the pain is in the middle of his back. I was still guarding against the area, he said. Moving around is not just a bad thing. It s when I sit down and try to get back up. One false move on the mound might take it to a totally different scenario, so it s not worth pushing it. Weaver said he and Manager Mike Scioscia even discussed the idea of him starting even if he might only be able to throw a few pitches, but they decided the injury risk was too great. I know the fans and everyone would like to see him pitch tomorrow, said Scioscia, who will instead give Jhoulys Chacin the ball. That s tough, but we re not going to put Jered at risk. Whether this marks the end of Weaver s Angels career remains to be seen. Weaver wants to return. This is all I ve known for 11 years, said Weaver, who made his major league debut in The Angels have been an amazing organization to play with for 11 years. I would love to stay here. I don t even know if the Angels want to take a shot at having me back. The club could certainly be interested in bringing him back at some sort of discounted deal, but they also may choose to move forward with younger pitchers. With Garrett Richards now looking more likely as an option for 2017, the Angels have Richards, Matt Shoemaker, Tyler Skaggs and Ricky Nolasco as solid bets for the rotation. Alex Meyer also will get every chance to win a spot, with pitchers like Brett Oberholtzer, Daniel Wright, Nate Smith and Manny Banuelos also in the mix. As for Weaver, he is open to going elsewhere. He said two of his priorities are the chance to start I still picture myself as a starter. and going to a contender. Weaver said he feels he can pitch more than just one more year, encouraged by the results he s seen from the stretching he s added to his regimen over the last year. Despite his career-worst 5.06 ERA this year, Weaver did show an uptick in velocity and until now durability. Over his last four starts he had a 3.04 ERA. There were a lot of people who thought I couldn t really even make it through the season, Weaver said. I didn t pitch my best baseball, but I did pretty good down the stretch and for the most part was able to keep my team in the game. For his career, Weaver is among the Angels all-time leaders in starts (322, second), wins (150, second) and strikeouts (1,598, third). There have been very few guys who have taken that mound at Angel Stadium with the same competitive fire as Jered, Scioscia said. That s been fun to watch. NOTES

9 October 2, 2016 Page 9 of 17 The Angels awarded Matt Shoemaker with the Nick Adenhart Award, given annually to the team s best pitcher. Shoemaker, whose season was ended a month ago when he was hit in the head by a line drive, went 9-13 with a 3.88 ERA. Mike Trout won the team s MVP Scioscia said Trout has been DHing this week because they are trying to ease the wear and tear on his body from a full season in center field. WithAlbert Pujols shut down because of plantar fasciitis, the DH spot has been available. Final: Angels Skaggs looks good in 3-0 loss to Houston By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER ANAHEIM Tyler Skaggs wanted one more big league outing before the winter just to take some peace of mind into the offseason, and he got it. Skaggs, who was on a limit of about 50 pitches, needed 45 to get five outs before his night game to an end. Skaggs was charged with just one run in the Angels 3-0 loss to the Houston Astros on Saturday. He walked two and gave up three hits, but he showed no signs of injury during the outing. I wasn t going in with any goal but going out and feeling good, Skaggs said. I didn t want walk people but my arm felt great so I m very happy about it. The past three weeks, Skaggs had been out with a mild flexor pronator strain. When he was hurt initially, it seemed that his season might be over, but he felt good enough and the medical staff gave him clearance to pitch. Skaggs, 25, finished his first post Tommy John surgery season with 89 innings, including 49 2/3 in the majors. He posted a 4.17 ERA in the majors. It had its ups and downs, like everbody said it would, he said. Definitely more downs. The ups I had were good ups Even the games where I didn t really throw how I wanted to, my arm felt great and the stuff I threw out there was really good. I was happy about it. Meanwhile, the Angels did little with Houston starter Collin McHugh in his 7 2/3 innings. They did not manage a baserunner until Andrelton Simmons singled with two outs in the fifth. Mike Trout came up empty in four trips to the plate. He had a shot at his 100th RBI when he came up in the sixth with Kole Calhoun at second, but he was hit by a pitch. Heading into the final game of the season, Trout is stuck on 29 homers, 29 stolen bases and 99 RBI.

10 October 2, 2016 Page 10 of 17 On deck: Astros at Angels, Sunday, 12 p.m. By JEFF FLETCHER / STAFF WRITER Where: Angel Stadium TV: Fox Sports West, 12 p.m. Did you know? The Angels have had 24 different pitchers record victories this season, an American League record. THE PITCHERS RHP JHOULYS CHACIN (4-6, 4.98) Vs. Astros: 1-2, 3.66 At Angel Stadium: 3-2, 3.67 Hates to face: Jose Altuve, 5 for 12 (.417) Loves to face: Jake Marisnick, 1 for 10 (.100) RHP BRADY RODGERS (0-0, 19.29) Vs. Angels: First game At Angel Stadium: First game Hates to face: None Loves to face: None FROM ANGELS.COM Trout s quest for enters final day By Austin Laymance / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- Mike Trout enters the final day of the 2016 season with a chance to record Major League Baseball's first 30-home run, 30-steal season since 2012, when he and Milwaukee's Ryan Braun both accomplished the feat. A candidate for the American League MVP Award, Trout has 29 homers, 29 steals and 99 RBIs entering the Sunday's season finale against the Astros at Angel Stadium. Trout also has an opportunity to become the first Angels player to pair a season with 100 RBIs. Braun was the last player in baseball with such a season, doing so in '12. Trout's 29 steals are his most since '13, when he swiped 33 bases. He's been caught stealing seven times for an 80.5 percent success rate this year. "I think he's doing a great job of picking his spots," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think he's been a very high-percentage basestealer this year. He's obviously picking his spots and he's getting good jumps and he's on the verge of stealing 30 bases."

11 October 2, 2016 Page 11 of 17 Trout's career high for steals is 49 in '12, his second year in the Majors. He had 33 stolen bases in '13, but missed by three homers. Then, though he hit 36 homers in '14 and 41 in '15, his stolen-base totals dipped to 16 and 11, respectively. For a stretch of 26 seasons, from , MLB produced at least one player every season but one in a non-strike year. This is the first multi-season drought since Skaggs wraps first post-surgery season healthy By Austin Laymance / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- Tyler Skaggs and the Angels enter the offseason with peace of mind knowing the lefthander is healthy following his first season back from Tommy John surgery. Skaggs started Saturday night's game after missing three weeks with a strained left forearm. He recorded five outs on 45 pitches and was charged with one run on three hits and two walks in a 3-0 loss to the Astros. "I wasn't going in with any goal, just kind of going out there and trying to feel good," said Skaggs, who had Tommy John surgery in August "Granted, you don't want to go out there and walk people. Overall, my arm felt great, so pretty happy about it." The most important thing to come out of the start was Skaggs' health. He had not pitched since tossing six shutout innings against the Rangers on Sept. 9. The lefty was scratched from his next scheduled start because of the forearm issue, which crept up during his between-starts work, and an MRI exam showed no structural damage to his surgically repaired elbow. Skaggs used all of his pitches Saturday, another positive sign. He worked around a two-out single in the first inning and made 17 pitches. Skaggs ran into trouble in the second, walking two and allowing two singles before being pulled for Mike Morin. "He's healthy; that's most important thing," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He maintained his stuff, lost his command a little bit. Some of that is explainable. But all of his pitches looked sharp. He threw them all and came out of it and feels great." Skaggs will have a normal offseason routine for the first time since the end of the 2013 season. He said he would resume a throwing program sometime in December. "I will take a lot of time off and be feeling really good coming into next year," he said. "I've been throwing for literally two straight years, so I can't wait." Skaggs finished the season 3-4 with a 4.17 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 49 2/3 innings. He made 10 starts, four of which were scoreless outings. "It's had its ups and downs, like everybody said it would," Skaggs said. "Definitely more downs than ups, but the ups that I had were really very, very good, good ups. My arm felt great and all the stuff that I

12 October 2, 2016 Page 12 of 17 threw out there was really good. I was happy about it. Granted, nobody told me it was going to be this hard of a road coming back, but happy to go out on a high note." Skaggs said the best part of the year was his season debut against the Royals on July 26, when he fired seven shutout innings to earn the win in his first start coming off surgery. "It has to be the first one, because you're coming back to the big leagues, you've worked almost two years, pretty much two years to the day, trying to grind as hard as I can to get back to the big leagues," he said. "So, for me, it was very fulfilling." Weaver done for 16, not for good Sore back keeps impending free agent from starting season finale By Austin Laymance / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- Jered Weaver won't be able to make his scheduled start on Sunday in the Angels' season finale because of tightness in his lower back, but the 11-year veteran is confident he'll be back on a big league mound somewhere next year as he heads into his first offseason as a free agent. "It hurts me to say that I won't be able to make that start tomorrow," Weaver said in the Angels' dugout before Saturday's game against the Astros. Weaver, who turns 34 on Tuesday, said he wants "to pitch as long as I can and as long as somebody is going to give me a jersey. I think I still have some years left." "I am definitely not going to retire," Weaver said. "I'm going to play and see what the options are." Weaver is not the same pitcher he once was, but he's still proven to be a productive Major League starter. In 31 starts this season, Weaver was with 103 strikeouts over 178 innings. The Angels were when he took the mound. However, he allowed a career-high 37 home runs and his 5.06 ERA was the highest of his career. Is Weaver's preference to return to the Angels, the only organization he's ever known? "The Angels have been an amazing organization to play with for 11 years and I would love to stay here," he said. "I've never been in this position to even experience free agency before. But my options are open. I don't even know if the Angels want to take a shot at having me back or any of that. I guess we'll know more in the months to come." Weaver was born and raised in Southern California and went to Long Beach State before being selected by the Angels 12th overall in the 2004 Draft. Would he consider signing with a team outside his comfort zone?

13 October 2, 2016 Page 13 of 17 "I'm to the point in my career where a [World Series] ring, it's always been first and foremost for me, but I want to win a world championship, and that's all I've played for," he said. "Obviously, a contending team would be first and foremost." Weaver said his impending free agency is a different feeling, though he's eager to see what the future holds. "It will be a fun process, I think, as well, kind of see what's out there," he said. "It's kind of a weird situation to be in. I've been here for 11 years and you think this is where you're going to stay forever, but it comes to a point where the business and things have to come into play." Weaver experienced discomfort in his lower back during his Monday start against the A's and was removed after five innings. He threw a bullpen session on Friday in hopes of starting Sunday, but said "one false move on the mound or something might take it to a totally different scenario. It's not worth pushing it." "I just wish that this back issue didn't happen now," he added. "I really wanted to make this start tomorrow, and it's just not going to happen." Weaver acknowledged pitching in front of the home crowd was one of the main reasons he pushed so hard to try to take the mound one more time. "It's why I wanted to go back out," he said. "The fans have been so supportive of me and showed their love over the years. It's kind of a bummer the way that I had to walk off the mound with kind of a nagging back and not being able to make it out for the last one." Weaver was asked what was his favorite moment during his Angels career. "It's a tough one," he said. "I would say celebrating on Boston's field in the playoffs [in 2009] was pretty cool. When those guys would beat us up and we couldn't get through those guys, and we finally ended up sweeping them and celebrating on their field." Of course, Weaver's Angels career may not be over. "We're not going to assume it's his last game," said manager Mike Scioscia. Angels win streak stalls at 4 By Austin Laymance and Brian McTaggart / MLB.com ANAHEIM -- Jose Altuve regained the Major League lead in hits and Collin McHugh ended his season with 7 2/3 shutout innings as the Astros blanked the Angels, 3-0, on Saturday night to even the threegame series at Angel Stadium.

14 October 2, 2016 Page 14 of 17 The Angels couldn't solve McHugh, who retired the first 14 batters he faced beforeandrelton Simmons singled up the middle with two outs in the fifth. The Halos had their four-game win streak snapped and were shut out for the first time since Sept. 16 against Toronto. "We did put up some good at-bats," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "It was nice to see. It was a difficult game to play. We've certainly been a little bit different mentally [since being eliminated from postseason contention], but we were able to put up some good at-bats, get a few runs." Altuve is a lock to win his second American League batting title in three years with a.338 average, but he entered Saturday's game trailing Boston's Mookie Betts by one hit for the most in the Majors. He singled in the first inning and again in the seventh to increase his season total to 215. Altuve also stole two bases to reach 30 on the season. Jake Marisnick drove in the first run of the game and led the Astros with three hits.evan Gattis added a pair of run-scoring singles and Teoscar Hernandez also had two hits for Houston, which improved to 13-5 against the Angels this season. McHugh limited the Angels to three hits, while striking out five against one walk. He hit Mike Trout with a pitch in the sixth inning. The Angels did not have another base runner until C.J. Cron doubled to right with one out in the ninth. "What a great performance when it's kind of hard to pitch on a night like tonight," Hinch said. "Both teams are out of it, a little bit of speed-up rules, guys are swinging early. He made his pitches and got a lot of outs early and was able to last pretty deep into the night and really save a bullpen that's pitched a lot. Tonight was excellent, and it caps a really sensational September for him." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED McHugh finishes strong: The Astros won for the eighth time in the last nine games started by McHugh, who went 6-0 in his final eight starts to finish with 13 wins and 32 over the past two seasons. McHugh is 13-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 16 regular-season starts in September/October since the Astros claimed him off waivers in "I always pride myself on being a good finisher of seasons and making sure that I'm stronger down the stretch than at any point in time during the season," McHugh said. "I got away with some pitches over the last month, for sure, but it seems like, whatever reason, they're finding mitts and our guys have been scoring some runs." Altuve toast of the town: After the game, the Astros held a champagne toast for Altuve winning his second batting title in three years. He went 2-for-4 and is hitting.338 entering the final day of the season. "The way that these guys played this year, they went outside to the field and played hard, and that kind of encouraged me and pushed me to keep playing hard every day," Altuve said. "It's really fun to play on a team like this. We're out of the playoffs, but it was a great season, a winning season. We know what we've got here and we're going to come back next year, and I know we're going to make it."

15 October 2, 2016 Page 15 of 17 Gattis drives in a pair: Gattis continued his second-half surge, going 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs to give him 72 for the season. He singled to center in the third to drive inyulieski Gurriel and -- after Altuve stole his 30th base of the season in the seventh -- Gattis scored him with an RBI single. In 59 games since July 23, Gattis is hitting.289 with 19 homers and 36 RBIs. Skaggs returns: Tyler Skaggs returned to the Angels after missing three weeks with a forearm strain. The left-hander recorded five outs on 45 pitches and was charged with one run on three hits and two walks. More importantly, he finished his first season back from Tommy John surgery healthy. "I wasn't going in with any goal, just kind of going out there and trying to feel good," Skaggs said. "Granted, you don't want to go out there and walk people. Overall, my arm felt great, so pretty happy about it." SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS The Angels are now locked into a top-10 pick in the 2017 Draft. WHAT'S NEXT Astros: Rookie Brady Rodgers will make his first Major League start in Sunday's 2:05 p.m. CT season finale against the Angels. Rodgers was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher after the Year after going 12-4 with a 2.86 ERA for Triple-A Fresno, winning the league's ERA title in the process. Angels: Jhoulys Chacin starts the season finale on Sunday in place of Jered Weaver, who is unable to go because of tightness in his lower back. Chacin last started on Sept. 24 in Houston, limiting the Astros to two unearned runs over six innings. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. PT. Angels call on Chacin for season finale vs. Astros By Austin Laymance / MLB.com Astros rookie Brady Rodgers will make his first Major League start in Sunday's season finale against the Angels, who will turn to Jhoulys Chacin in the matchup at Angel Stadium. Rodgers, the team's Minor League Pitcher of the Year, threw four games in relief this month. "It's an opportunity to get him some innings," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He got off to a rough start when he got here, and he's our Minor League Pitcher of the Year and he's earned the right to get a look at the last day for sure. He's sort of waited his turn in September and has been mostly an insurance policy for us down in the bullpen." Rodgers was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher after the Year after going 12-4 with a 2.86 ERA for Triple-A Fresno, winning the league's ERA title in the process. He said he was trying to throw too hard in his four relief appearances for the Astros instead of trusting his stuff, and the result was a ERA. "I'm a guy who can just spot up with 89, 90 [mph] and work off of that," he said. "The last few outings, that's exactly what I've been doing, so I'm going to try to keep doing that on the start tomorrow.

16 October 2, 2016 Page 16 of 17 Chacin will start in place of Jered Weaver, who can't go because of tightness in his lower back that crept up in his Monday start. Weaver really wanted to make the start because he's a free agent after the season and its possible he pitches for another team next season. "It's kind of a bummer the way that I had to walk off the mound with kind of a nagging back and not being able to make it out for the last one," said Weaver. "It will be fun to sit back and watch and root the guys on and see what happens." Things to know about this game Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who enters Sunday a lock to win the American League batting title, leads the Red Sox's Mookie Betts by one hit for the Major League lead (215 to 214) and will be in the lineup Sunday at DH, Hinch said. Hinch also said George Springer will be in the lineup for his 162nd game, but Carlos Correa, Yulieski Gurriel and Evan Gattis will sit out. Angels center fielder Mike Trout is one stolen base and one homer shy of the Majors' first season since Trout and Ryan Braun of the Brewers did it in The Astros, at 41-39, have already clinched their best road record since they went on the road in Houston went on the road from , which was the worst road record in the Major Leagues in that span. FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS McHugh goes 7 2/3 innings, Astros beat Angels 3-0 ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Collin McHugh remains just about perfect this time of year. McHugh pitched three-hit ball over 7 2/3 innings to help the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Saturday night. McHugh (13-10) was perfect through 4 2/3 innings until Andrelton Simmons singled through the right side. In his longest outing since May 30, McHugh walked one and struck out five to win his sixth decision in his last eight starts. McHugh has dominated Los Angeles, winning eight straight dating to the 2014 season. "It caps a really sensational September for him where he really put up a lot of good games," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. McHugh has won 13 consecutive September/October starts, the longest streak of its kind for any major league pitcher.

17 October 2, 2016 Page 17 of 17 "If that's going to be my last start, then I'll take it," McHugh said. "I always pride myself on being a finisher and being stronger down the stretch than at any point in time during the season." Jose Altuve reached base three times and scored once, Jake Marisnickwent 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI and Evan Gattis drove in two runs. The Angels put two on with two out in the ninth, but Rafael Ortegastranded the runners with a flyball to center field before Ken Gilesconverted his 15th save. The Astros scored runs in the second, third and seventh innings. They chased Tyler Skaggs from the game after Marisnick singled to left to scoretyler White. Yuliesky Gurriel doubled to lead off the third and was moved over by Altuve's fly ball to right field. Gattis' grounder bounced high over Simmons' head at shortstop for a single to score Gurriel. Altuve scored from first on Gattis' single in the seventh to cap the scoring. Skaggs (3-4) was removed after 1 2/3 innings, leaving the game with two on and two out, adhering to his strict 45-pitch limit. After missing time with a mild left pronator flexor strain, Skaggs, who made his 10th start since returning from Tommy John surgery, wanted to get one more start in before the end of the season. "I wasn't going out there with any goal, I was just going out there trying to feel good," Skaggs said. "I didn't want to go out there and walk people, but overall my arm felt great." Skaggs will skip the instructional leagues in an effort to prevent further damage to his elbow. "All his pitches looked sharp and he came out of it feeling great, so know he's healthy and that's important," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I don't think he has anything else that he's going need to prove or work on down there right now." TRAINER'S ROOM Angels: RHP Jered Weaver will not make his final start of the season Sunday and will be replaced by RHP Jhoulys Chacin. Weaver left his last start against Oakland with lower-back tightness and determined that his progression isn't far enough along to risk making another start. UP NEXT Astros: RHP Brady Rodgers will make his first major league start. The Houston-area native has been scoreless in each of his last three outings -- three innings -- and is 0-0 with a ERA. Angels: Chacin made his last start against Houston, taking a no-decision after giving up two unearned runs over four innings. Chacin is 4-6 as a starter this season.