(Photo credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images)

The highly anticipated major-league debut for Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai is set for Sunday afternoon when the Houston Astros host the Los Angeles Angels in the finale of their four-game series.

The Astros signed Imai to a three-year, $54 million deal in January in hopes he can help guide them back into the playoffs after they missed out last season for the first time since 2016.

'I'm really looking forward to it,' Imai said through an interpreter after his final preseason start last Monday. 'Our team is definitely a favorite in the championship, so I want to do my best to contribute in the best way possible.'

The 2026 season got off to a rough start for Houston with two straight losses to the Angels on Thursday and Friday. The Astros then fell behind 6-0 on Saturday but rallied for an 11-9 victory that prevented them from starting 0-3 for the second time in three years.

Imai made his Daikin Park debut in Monday's exhibition against Triple-A Sugar Land.

Houston manager Joe Espada hoped Imai would go five innings, but he was lifted after throwing 79 pitches over 3 2/3 shutout innings. Imai allowed two hits, walked one and hit two batters.

'I wish we could have been more efficient to be back out there one more inning, but I thought his overall work was good,' Espada said. 'I thought he threw the ball really well, and excited for what's coming next. I think he's going to be an impact to our pitching staff, and we're going to be excited about what we get out of Imai every time he steps on the mound.'

After blowing a chance to start 3-0 for the first time since 2006, the Angels will try to win the series behind right-hander Jack Kochanowicz, who had a solid spring, posting a 1.62 ERA in five appearances (four starts).

'That's a great confidence booster for the season,' Kochanowicz said after his final spring training outing on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 'It's always fun to throw against these guys. It brings it out a little more. But yeah, it was good today.'

Kochanowicz lost his only start against the Astros last April, surrendering six runs, seven hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings of the 14-3 loss in Houston.

Kochanowicz likely will have veteran Travis d'Arnaud behind the plate after Logan O'Hoppe caught the first three games of the series and made three throwing errors in the past two games, including a two-out two-run throwing error in an eight-run sixth inning on Saturday.

'Good throw probably got him out,' Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. 'It was one of those aggressive mistakes.'

Mike Trout continues to have one of the hottest starts of his career. He's 5-for-9 through three games with two home runs, six walks, four runs scored and three RBIs.

Nolan Schanuel has hit safely in each of the first three games, including a pair of home runs, and leadoff hitter Zach Neto has scored four runs in the past two games.

As a team, the Angels have increased their run total in each game of the series.

'We've been putting some good at-bats together,' Suzuki said. 'Guys are stringing some hits together, putting some barrel on the ball and scoring some runs, so it's been some great at-bats, consistent. The work's been great and it's nice to see them rewarded.'

--Field Level Media