Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros Picks, Predictions, Odds

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros Betting Analysis

The Houston Astros host the Los Angeles Angels in the first contest of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park on Friday, July 1, 2022.

The Angels are 37-41 overall and 16-18 on the road, which positions Los Angeles third in the American League West standings and trails the division leading Houston Astros by 12.5 games. The Astros are currently leading the West division with 48-27 and a home record of 21-11.

Updated on 04/18/2024

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Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros Betting Prediction

The Los Angeles Angels are currently third in the AL West standings, 12 and a half games behind the Houston Astros for first place. The Angels most recently went 2-1 SU against the Chicago White Sox and have gone 5-5 SU over their last 10 games. Los Angeles’ offense was not great against Chicago with four runs scored in each game. This right on par with their season average of 4.19 runs per game (15th). Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani have been the heart and soul of this offense as they have combined for 40 home runs and 98 RBIs this season. The Angels bullpen struggled in game two against the White Sox, allowing 11 runs but were much better in games one and three, giving up a combined four runs. On the season the Angels bullpen has a team ERA of 3.82 (12th).  

Houston enters this matchup first in the AL West standings with a 11 and a half game lead over the second-place Texas Rangers. The Astros defeated the Yankees on Thursday night 2-1 and have won eight of their last 10 games. Prior to the one game against the Yankees, Houston went 2-0 SU in a two-game series with the Mets. The Astros bullpen was lights out on Thursday night, holding the Yankees to just five hits and one run. This has been a common theme for Houston this season as they currently have a team ERA of 2.96 (2nd). The offense had just three hits and two runs against the Yankees and have not been as productive as recent years, averaging 4.29 runs per game (20th) this season.  

The Astros have won four of seven games against the Angels this season. I like Houston to win game-one of this series as well. Houston has been playing great baseball and I expect their bullpen to dominate this Angels offense who seem to heavily rely on just two hitters, Trout and Ohtani. Would not be surprised to see Houston cover the runline in this matchup but will be sticking with the Astros moneyline as their offense has been a bit inconsistent this season.  

Score Prediction: Astros 4, Angels 3
Best Bet: Astros ML

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros Betting Odds

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros Betting Resources

• Date: Friday, July 1, 2022
• Matchup: AL West
• Venue: Minute Maid Park
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Time-TV: 8:10 p.m. ET – Apple TV+

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros – Current Form

The Angels lost 2-1 against the Mariners last Sunday, but then went 1-2 to the White Sox in their next game on Wednesday. They limited the Chicago White Sox to just one run in the third contest of the series on Wednesday.

Against the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles’s defense allowed for 11 runs in the second game of the series on Tuesday. Houston continues to roll, going 3-0 in its last three games against the Mets and the Yankees. In the second contest against the New York Mets on Wednesday, the Houston Astros were in their best form in the last three games, not allowing the New York Mets to score one single run. The first of two matches on Tuesday marked an nine-run effort by Houston against the New York Mets, which was their best performance this week.

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros – Pitching Matchup

Los Angeles: Michael Lorenzen (6-5, 4.24 ERA)

Michael Lorenzen is on the hill for the Angels in this contest as he makes his 12th start of the season hoping to build some positive momentum. He comes in 6-5 with a 4.24 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, 28 walks and 52 strikeouts over 68 innings of work this season. Lorenzen got assigned the loss in his last start, which came at home against the Seattle Mariners on June 24, 2022. He threw three innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts in an eventual 3-4 Angels defeat. Lorenzen owns a 2-3 road record this season in five starts away from Angel Stadium of Anaheim. In those away outings, he has posted a 6.14 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP, 13 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 29.1 innings of work.

Houston: Cristian Javier (5-3, 2.73 ERA)

Cristian Javier is on the hill for the Astros in this contest as he makes his 10th start of the season hoping to build some positive momentum. He comes in 5-3 with a 2.73 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, 24 walks and 81 strikeouts over 62.2 innings of work this season. The 25-year-old right-hander lifted the Astros to win on the road over the New York Yankees on June 25, 2022. Javier tossed seven innings in the 0-3 win by the New York Yankees, while giving up 13 strikeouts and one walk. In his five home starts this season, Javier is 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, 11 walks and 40 strikeouts over 32.1 innings of work.

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros – Series History

Houston went 13-6 overall in the 2021 head-to-head meetings. This season, Houston has picked up four wins in seven meetings.