VIDEO: James Harden throws out 1st pitch at Angels-Astros game

With Houston Rockets training camp just around the corner, James Harden is back in Texas. Perhaps hoping to earn some karma points, he was on hand to help rally the Houston Astros into the postseason Wednesday, throwing out the first pitch as they took on the Los Angeles Angels.

Harden promised to throw a strike, and while his pitch came in a bit low and at a Jered Weaver-esque velocity, the lefty acquitted himself well.

"To be honest, it was a ball. It felt good," Harden admitted before taking a jab at Michael Carter-Williams. "I didn't hit anybody. I'm pretty excited about that."

Harden took a photo with fellow bearded Houston star Dallas Keuchel, owner of an obscene 2.51 ERA, an unfair 4.3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, 18 victories, and some terrific whiskers of his own.

And while Harden's rooting interests surely lie with the Astros, who currently occupy the American League's second wild-card position, he also took a second to pose with Angels superstar Mike Trout. Former and soon-to-be MVP runners-up need to stick together, right?