Los Angeles Angels vs Houston Astros: Preview & Prediction
By Ryan Murphy in MLB Baseball
Published:
A pair of AL West titans clash on Monday, April 23rd as the Houston Astros (16-7, 6-3 Home) host the Los Angeles Angels (14-8, 9-1 Away) at Minute Maid Park.
The defending World Series champs are rounding into form after winning six straight against the Mariners and White Sox. Houston outscored Chicago 27-2 during their three-game series and demonstrated why they’re favored to win their second consecutive title this October.
The Angels, meanwhile, have come back to earth after getting off to their best start since 1979. Los Angeles has lost five of their last six games and were completely overwhelmed by Boston, giving up nine runs per game during their lopsided three-game series. They’ll need to do far better tonight to reclaim the top spot in the division.
Below, find the opening odds, key statistics and betting trends, weather forecast, and score prediction for tonight’s game.
Opening Odds
| MONEYLINE | RUNLINE | O/U RUNS |
|---|---|---|
| ANGELS (+165) | ANGELS +1.5 (-120) | OVER 8.5 (-105) |
| ASTROS (-190) | ASTROS -1.5 (EVEN) | UNDER 8.5 (-115) |
Gerrit Cole is a big reason why the Astros’ starting rotation has the lowest ERA in the Majors. The former no. 1 overall pick is 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA and is leading the American League with 41 strike outs. His four-seam fastball has been regularly clocked at 98 MPH this season and he’s been handcuffing lefties with his nasty slider. It’s still early, but Cole is looking like the best acquisition of the offseason.
Taking the mound for the Angels is Tyler Skaggs, who is 2-1 with a 3.98 ERA in 20.1 innings pitched. The 26-year-old was rocked in his last start against the Red Sox, giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings. Most of the damage was done in the third, when Skaggs loaded the bases and gave up a grand slam to third baseman Rafael Devers on a hanging curve. The 6’4” lefty has plus stuff, but he can’t afford to make a mistake like that tonight against Houston’s lethal lineup.
Team Stats
| 14-8 (9-1 Away) | RECORD | 16-7 (6-3 Home) |
| +16 | RUN DIFFERENTIAL | +58 |
| LHP Tyler Skaggs: 2-1, 3.98 ERA, 1.38 WHIP | PROBABLE STARTER | RHP Gerrit Cole: 2-0, 0.96 ERA, 0.75 WHIP |
| .160 BA, .220 OPS (in 75 at-bats) | LINEUP VS OPPONENT STARTER | .266 BA, .337 OPS (in 79 at-bats) |
| 3.16 ERA (9th in MLB) | BULLPEN ERA | 2.49 ERA (3rd in MLB) |
| .756 (6th in MLB) | TEAM OPS | .740 (8th in MLB) |
| 7-12 (4-6 Away) | 2017 HEAD-TO-HEAD | 12-7 (6-4 Home) |
Betting Results & Trends
| ANGELS | TREND | ASTROS |
|---|---|---|
| Lost 1 | WIN/LOSS STREAK | Won 6 |
| 5-5 | LAST 10 | 7-3 |
| 14-8 | RUNLINE RECORD | 16-7 |
| 13-9 | OVER/UNDER SPLIT | 9-13-1 |
| Under 2 | OVER/UNDER STREAK | Push 1 |
The Giants squeaked by the Angels 4-2 thanks to a strong performance from first baseman Brandon Belt, who set a Major League record with a 12-minute, 21-pitch at bat.
The Astros downed the White Sox 7-1 behind another strong outing from Lance McCullers Jr., who gave up one run in six innings pitched.
Weather Forecast at Opening Pitch
| TEMPERATURE | 78° |
| HUMIDITY | 37% |
| WIND SPEED | NW 8 mph |
| P.O.P. | 0% |
Score Prediction
| ANGELS | 1 |
| ASTROS | 6 |
Not only are the Astros the last team that the Angels want to see right now, but Gerrit Cole is also the last pitcher they want to face. The 27-year-old right-hander has given up just eight hits combined in his last two starts, while striking out 19.
Cole has always been good, but the chance to exchange notes with new teammates Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel has allowed him to unlock a new level.
Cole has always been good, but the chance to exchange notes with new teammates Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel has allowed him to unlock a new level. He’s now combining four quality pitches with a far better understanding of sequencing, and its made him nearly unhittable.
LA’s losing streak will soon come to and end, but it won’t be tonight against Cole and the Astros.
Former Sports Writer
Ryan worked as an Editor and resident Lead NBA and MLB Writer for SB from 2017-19. He has authored his own weekly columns for Fox Sports and AskMen, and has created successful campaigns for the WWE, the NHL, and the NFL. Ryan's critically acclaimed stories have been published in 20 books.
