The Los Angeles Angels travel to Minute Maid Park to take on the Houston Astros in an inter-divisional matchup with AL West implications. Here’s a quick breakdown of the MLB game:
- When: Monday, May 21st at 8:10 PM ET
- Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston
- Pitching Matchup: Reid Detmers (LAA) vs. Framber Valdez (HOU)
- Betting Lines: Astros heavy favorites (-200), Angels underdogs (+168)
Can the lowly Angels pull off an upset against the favored Astros, or will Houston solidify their position in the AL West standings?
Here is a look at some Angels vs Astros Picks that should help you make winnings MLB picks for this game.
Angels vs Astros Picks
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Overall Game Info & Outlook
- Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros
- The Angels come into this MLB matchup with an overall record of None.
- The Astros come into this matchup with an overall record of None.
Los Angeles Angels vs Houston Astros Betting Preview
Struggling Angels Look to Upset Astros on the Road
The Los Angeles Angels (18-29) head to Minute Maid Park to face the Houston Astros (21-26) in an interdivisional matchup:
- Road Warriors?: Despite a dismal home record (6-16), the Angels have fared better on the road (12-13). Can they maintain that success against the Astros?
- Underdog Mentality: Los Angeles enters as a significant underdog (+168) against the favored Astros (-200). Their recent form hasn’t helped, with a 3-11-1 series record this season.
- Can Detmers Deliver?: Reid Detmers (3-4, 5.18 ERA) takes the mound for the Angels. He’ll need to limit the damage against a potent Astros offense.
- Los Angeles Offense: The Angels rank 17th in runs per game (4.3 on the road). Look for Jo Adell (heating up with 3 HRs in his last 9 games) and Taylor Ward (.314 average in his last 9 games) to lead the charge.
- Over/Under: The over/under line sits at 8.5 runs. Los Angeles’ games average 9.3 runs, with a 26-20 over/under record.
Can the Angels pull off an upset on the road, or will the Astros solidify their position in the standings?
Additional Notes:
- The Angels have won two straight series on the road but have lost seven straight at home.
- Detmers has allowed seven home runs this season.
Houston Astros Chasing Mariners in AL West Despite Strong Offense
The Houston Astros are in hot pursuit of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West division, currently sitting four games back. Despite a strong offense leading the league in batting average (.265) and home runs (4th in MLB with 56), the Astros find themselves with a record of 21-26.
Here’s a quick rundown of the Astros’ season so far:
- Record: 21-26 (9-5 in AL West)
- Hot Streak: Won 3 straight series, overall 7-7-1 series record
- Home/Road: 13-13 at home, 8-13 on the road
- Offense: League leaders in batting average (.265) and fewest strikeouts per game (6)
- Top Hitters: Kyle Tucker (.417 OBP, 15 HR, 33 RBI), Jeremy Peña (.328 AVG, 5 HR, 20 RBI)
Pitching Woes:
While the offense is clicking, the pitching staff needs improvement. The Astros have an ERA of 4.54, ranking 26th in the MLB standings. However, Framber Valdez has been a bright spot with a 3-1 record and a 2.94 ERA.
Looking Ahead:
The Astros will look to continue their winning ways against the Los Angeles Angels in a three-game series at Minute Maid Park starting today. Can they overcome their pitching struggles and climb the AL West standings?
Recommended Pick: Over 8.5 Runs -109
Our prediction for the Angels vs Astros game is to take the over, with the line sitting at 8.5 runs. Our predicted final MLB score is 5-4 in favor of the Astros, giving us some room to spare in terms of the over/under line.
Looking at the starting pitchers, Framber Valdez has a much better chance of picking up a win compared to Reid Detmers. However, we have Valdez finishing with six strikeouts, which is lower than his season average, and Detmers ending with five.
Offensively, the Astros have one of the highest projected home run totals in the league today and are also expected to finish with 10 hits. For the Angels, they are predicted to finish with eight strikeouts, which is middle of the pack.
If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, the Astros are predicted to win, and with a payout of -200, there is some value there.
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