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Jul 27, 2015 - 10:44 PM Mike Trout has put up MVP numbers since the Los Angeles Angels sent Houston home just over a month ago, and the Angels have overtaken the Astros for the AL West lead.

He's never been much of a threat at Minute Maid Park, but that could change Tuesday night as the Angels - who might have new acquisition Shane Victorino in the lineup - begin a three-game series with hopes of grabbing a firmer hold on the division.

Trout has batted .371 with a 1.303 OPS, 13 home runs and 23 RBIs in 24 games of the team's 18-7 span dating to June 26, when the Astros (55-45) had a five-game lead over the Angels (55-43) and Texas. Houston has gone 12-13 since.

Trout was 4 for 4 with a grand slam and a solo homer in Sunday's 13-7 home win over the Rangers that snapped a three-game losing streak. His 31 home runs lead the total of teammate Albert Pujols by two for the MLB lead, and he's five off his career high from last season with four games remaining in July.

Reaching 30 in his 97th game marks the fastest pace in club history.

"I don't look at that stuff," Trout said. "At the end of the year, if that's where it's at, then that's where it's at. I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win."

It probably follows that he doesn't look at this stuff: Trout has batted .186 in 19 games in Houston for his worst average at any park in the majors, though he did open his season there with a two-homer, five-RBI game April 17.

Trout could have a new left fielder to get used to Tuesday after Los Angeles acquired Victorino and cash from Boston for infielder Josh Rutledge on Monday. The 34-year-old has spent the past three years in Boston, batting .245 in 33 games this season with two stints on the disabled list, but the Angels have struggled to find production in left after cutting ties with Josh Hamilton in April.

Los Angeles and Houston have split 10 games this season, with the Astros winning five of the last six home matchups.

Houston has dropped two straight and nine of 15, batting .228 in that span. It fell 5-1 at Kansas City on Sunday, and manager A.J. Hinch was already looking forward to the Angels and beyond.

"We have to play the whole schedule. These are three of them," Hinch said. "We have some more in September where we match up in our division. It'll be a fun series, two good teams. It's all part of trying to finish the season over the next couple of months rather than the next couple of days."

C.J. Wilson (8-7, 3.59 ERA) makes for a prime pitcher to break out against, going 1-4 with a 9.59 ERA in his last six starts against Houston. Luis Valbuena (4 for 4 with a home run), Jake Marisnick (4 for 8) and Chris Carter (9 for 27 with two homer) have had the most success, but Valbuena is in a 5-for-32 slump.

Wilson last faced the Astros on June 23 in a 13-3 loss, surrendering seven runs in 3 1-3 innings, but he's been better since. The left-hander gave up two runs in five innings of Wednesday's 5-2 win over Minnesota and is 3-1 with a 2.56 ERA in five starts.

He's up against Collin McHugh in a rematch of last month's game, and McHugh (11-5, 4.25) has won back-to-back starts despite surrendering 18 hits in 13 innings. The right-hander allowed two runs in seven innings of Wednesday's 4-2 home victory over Boston, his third straight home win.

McHugh is 3-2 with a 2.08 ERA in six starts against Los Angeles. Trout is 2 for 11 with a home run and five strikeouts in the matchup, and Chris Iannetta (0 for 8 with four strikeouts) and Erick Aybar (2 for 15) have also struggled.

Matt Joyce is 3 for 10 with three doubles against McHugh, but the left fielder could be headed to the seven-day concussion list after taking a knee to the head Sunday in a collision with Aybar.