The Los Angeles Angels put an end to a six-game slide that included three defeats to Houston when they picked up a 7-6 win against Oakland on Sunday. I think they'll ride that momentum to a revenge win against the Astros Monday night.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Astros hand the ball to Collin McHugh (5-5, 4.70 ERA) who allowed two runs in seven innings of a 3-2 home win against the Angels, not factoring in the decision his last start. McHugh has struggled on the road though where he's 2-3 with a 5.02 ERA in seven starts this year. The Angels counter with Matt Shoemaker (3-8, 4.43) who has given up just five runs and 15 hits while striking out 18 in 15 2/3 frames in two meetings with the Astros this year.

2. Motivational - The Angels sit dead last in the AL West but manager Mike Scioscia insists the team is still giving maximum effort. "No way will we ever give up on this year. We have more in us, with even this group of guys. Where we are in the standings doesn't matter. We still have confidence we're going to turn this thing around and get things going in the right direction." Yesterday's win where the Angels rallied to score five runs in the last three innings would suggest that Scioscia is right.

3. X-Factor - Albert Pujols is 5-for-10 in his last two games and 6-for-17 with a home run in previous meetings with McHugh.

Selection: This is a play on the Los Angeles Angels +1.5 (8*)