MLB Odds, Picks and Predictions: Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels

Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels Odds

Odds as of Friday at 4 p.m. ET and via FanDuel. Get up to a $500 risk-free bet at FanDuel today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.

The Houston Astros are a .500 baseball team after playing 10% of their schedule. One might be pretty alarmed by that statement if they didn’t check to see that two of those losses came at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have the highest run differential in in Major League Baseball after scoring 20 more runs than they’ve allowed.

I generally try to use different methods when analyzing a game. I’ve found that this is a more challenging approach which helps to keep your analysis fresh. Some methods are qualitative while others are more complex. And then there’s your gut.

That method seems to apply best for Friday's matchup between the Astros and the Angels.

The Angels Are Shorthanded

Last season, the Astros went 14-5 against the Angels. Today, the Angels will try to beat them without the services of their best player, Mike Trout. Trout is currently on the paternity list as he and his wife are expecting their first child.

Angels outfielder Brian Goodwin will look to do his best Trout impersonation as he replaces the four-time All Star in center field tonight.

Pitching Matchup

The Astros will send hard-throwing Lance McCullers Jr. to the mound while the Angels will counter with Matt Andriese. McCullers is 3-3 with a 2.45 ERA after 11 starts against the Angels. Current Angels hitters have a .244 average, .279 OBP (on-base percentage), and .415 SLG (slugging percentage) against McCullers.

It won't be an easy task for Andriese to keep the Astros at bay. Houston has faced Andriese on a few occasions and the results favor the 'Stros. Andriese is 1-1 with a 6.14 ERA against Houston and, as a team, the Astros have hit two home runs against the former Ray to go along with a  .394 batting average, .417 OBP and .636 SLG.

Betting Analysis

Both teams come into tonight’s game on a two-game losing streak but only one team has fared well of late in this spot.

Since 2019, the Houston Astros are 42-20 after losing two in a row. Astros backers are up 11.2 units in this situational spot whereas the Angels are 39-52 for a loss of 17.3 units after dropping two in a row.

Don’t overthink this one. Take the better all-around team and pitcher in this matchup.

After shopping around, I found I could get a shorter line backing the favorite in this one if I play the First-5-Innings moneyline. Since that price is more agreeable with my numbers, I’ll look to play Houston at -154 at FanDuel.

The Pick: Houston Astros -154 F5 Moneyline

[Bet this game at FanDuel. NJ, PA, CO, IN and WV only.]