The Houston Astros (50-41) will take on Los Angeles Angles (45-46) in the opening game of the game played at Angel Stadium on Friday. First pitch is at 9:38 p.m. et (MLB Network). Let’s analyze the BetMGM sportsbook lines around Astros vs Angels odds and our expert MLB selections and predictions for the best bets.
Season Series: Astros Lead 5-2.
The Astros finished the first half with a 6–4 record and crawled to within 2 games of the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead. They will be without OF Jordan Alvarez (oblique) and 2B Jose Altuve (oblique). Alvarez went on a rehab assignment and could be back next week, and Altuve shouldn’t be left behind.
The Angels limped into the All-Star break, losing 9 of 10 games to be 7 games behind the division and 5 games out of the wild card spot. They are working without OF Mike Trout (hand), who is recovering from surgery to repair a broken hamate bone and will not return for 2-6 weeks. The Halos will need a quick start from the break to avoid getting back in it and potentially selling off key assets.
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Houston Astros Vs Los Angeles Angels Prediction
The predicted outcome of the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Houston Astros is a close win for the Angels with a final score of 3–2. Considering the money line, the focus is on Shohei Ohtani, the starting pitcher for the Angels. Although he left his last start due to a blister on his finger, which could potentially be a recurring issue, it will be important to monitor his performance upon his return.
The Astros have had some success against Ohtani this season, allowing seven earned runs in 13 innings. However, due to the lack of key players in the Astros’ lineup, it is unlikely that they will be able to beat Ohtani for the third time this season. Despite this, the Angels’ offense’s confidence in ensuring a win is not strong enough to justify betting at -160 on their money line.
Ohtani left his last start with a blister on his finger. These can happen over and over again and would be something to watch out for on their first start. The Astros have gotten Ohtani to 7 ER in 13 IP this seasInstead, a recommended bet is to take Shohei Ohtani to record over 17.5 outs (-145). Ohtani has been consistent against the Astros, going six innings in four of his last five starts against them. Looking at the run line or spread, the Astros have been successful on the road with a 27–17 record on the run line, while the Angels have struggled at home with a 17–26 record. Additionally, the Astros have won seven of their last ten games against the Angels.
Therefore, taking the Astros with a +1.5 run line at -160 is a favorable choice, as a low-scoring game is expected to ensure an Angels victory. With regard to over/under, recent trends indicate that most games between these teams have resulted in under. The Astros have been trending under in their last ten games, while the Angels have been trending over. However, the Angels needed a low-scoring contest to be successful in this game., but are missing 2 of their key cogs in the lineup. I don’t think they beat him 3 times in a season, but I’m not confident enough in Angel’s offense to put -160 on his ML.
I’ll go with Shohei Ohtani at 17.5 out (-145). He has thrown 6 IPs in 4 of his last 5 starts against Houston.