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Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros Free Preview 09/22/18

Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Angels will be squaring off against their AL West foe Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The matchup will get going at 7:10 p.m. ET and fans hoping to watch it can tune in to ATTSN Southwest.

Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros Odds

Houston (-280) is hosting this one as the favorite against Los Angeles (+240) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at 7.5 runs (-105 for the under and -115 for the over). Runline odds sit at +115 for taking the Angels +1.5 runs and -135 for the Astros -1.5.

The Astros are 96-57 straight up (SU) and 77-75 against the spread (ATS). The team has lost 7.3 units for moneyline bettors and 5.8 units (ATS). Houston has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Angels are 75-79 SU and have gone 70-83 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 9.5 units for moneyline gamblers and 24.1 units ATS. Los Angeles has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.

Astros games have a 68-77-7 over/under record in 2018. The Angels have also been a decent under bet with a total record of 68-76-9.

Jaime Barria will get the nod for the visiting Angels. The right-handed Barria (10-9, 3.61 ERA) has racked up 91 strikeouts in 119.2 innings so far. He’s 1-1 with 12 strikeouts and a 2.81 ERA against Houston this year (three starts).

The Astros will turn to righty Justin Verlander (16-9, 2.67 ERA), who’s got 269 strikeouts and 36 walks as well as a 0.93 WHIP. Verlander is 4-1 with 44 strikeouts and a 2.16 ERA over five starts against Los Angeles this year.

Houston’s pitchers have yielded 3.3 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 3.19 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.05, a WHIP of 1.07 and a K/9 of 10.7. In 74 games against divisional foes, Astros starters have an ERA of 3.49 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.61.

The Houston offense has put up 5.0 runs per contest, including 4.9 per game against divisional foes and 4.8 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .241/.314/.380 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.

Third baseman Alex Bregman and second baseman Jose Altuve have paced the Astros’ hitters this year. Bregman is hitting .289/.396/.539 with 30 home runs, 100 RBIs and 102 runs scored, while Altuve’s line sits at .314/.384/.450 with 12 homers, 58 RBIs, 80 runs and 17 stolen bases.

In the other dugout, Los Angeles’ pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starters own a 4.36 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 8.75 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.89, along with a WHIP of 1.31 and a K-per-9 of 8.48.

Angels hitters have slashed .244/.316/.414 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game this year, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).

Shortstop Andrelton Simmons and right fielder Mike Trout continue to lead Los Angeles’ hitters. Simmons is hitting .296/.340/.424 with 11 home runs, 73 RBIs and 66 runs scored. Trout (.316/.461/.633) has produced 37 homers, 74 RBIs, 97 runs and 24 stolen bases.

The Angels have gained 3.6 units and are 50-54 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in 51 of those games, compared to 48 that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the Astros have netted 1.8 units and are 50-44 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 42 of those games, as opposed to 47 that’ve gone under.

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros MLB Pick

Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Angels, O/U – UNDER

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Notes

Betting Trends

The over has hit in four of Houston’s last seven games.

Los Angeles has recorded 16.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 16.2 over its last five.

The Angels have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit nine over their last 10.

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Written by GMS Previews

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