Richards returns to face Astros

(SportsNetwork.com) - Garrett Richards returns to the mound on Sunday when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play the rubber match of their three-game set with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Richards was in the midst of the best season of his career last year when he ruptured his left patellar tendon covering first base on Aug. 20 in Boston. He had been 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA at the time of the season-ending injury.

"Everything feels great," Richards said before Friday's game. "The knee feels good. It's responding well. I've gotten up to 100 pitches twice now. I feel like I've done everything necessary to get back to this point. I don't think I have any more things to check off the list."

Richards has faced the Astros nine times (6 starts) and is 4-1 against them with a 3.61 ERA.

Houston, meanwhile, will turn to righty Scott Feldman, who has lost both of his starts this season and is pitching to a 6.17 ERA. Feldman pitched well his first time out, but was awful on Monday against Oakland, as he surrendered eight runs (7 earned) and 10 hits in five innings.

"That was one of those days that maybe come along once a year or something like that," Feldman said. "Hopefully, I can put it behind me and come back out ready to go."

Feldman is 5-8 lifetime versus the Angels with a 4.80 ERA in 25 games (16 starts).

Houston evened this series at a game apiece on Saturday, as Robbie Grossman stroked a three-run homer to power the Astros to a 4-0 win.

George Springer also homered for the Astros, who had starter Dallas Keuchel (2-0) toss six scoreless innings. He surrendered just two hits and three walks while striking out seven.

"I'm glad I capitalized on that to help my team score some more runs," Grossman said.

C.J. Wilson (1-2), who didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, gave up two runs on three hits and four walks and fanned eight for the Angels, who won the series opener 6-3 on Friday.

The Angels won 12 of 19 meetings with Houston last season.