The Los Angeles Angels will try to avoid the sweep as they take on the Houston Astros in the finale at Minute Maid Park on Sunday. It's time to continue our MLB odds coverage with an Angels-Astros prediction and pick.
The Astros defeated the Angels 9-1 on Saturday. Houston started strong with RBI singles by Kyle Tucker and Jake Meyers which gave the Astros a 3-0 lead. Then, Martin Maldonado added fuel to the fire with a solo home run. The home run was his 6th in 2022, giving the Astros a 4-0 lead. Later, the Angels trailed 5-0 in the third when Taylor Ward blasted a solo home run to left. The home run was his 12th in 2022, cutting the deficit to 5-1. However, the Astros would pile on with another home run from Maldonado and Jose Altuve. Tucker and Chas McCormick added home runs to pad the score. Consequently, the Astros amassed five home runs on Saturday.
The Angels are now 37-43 and in fourth place. They trail the Astros by 14 1/2 games in the AL West. The Astros lead the AL West with a 50-27 record, which is also second-best in the AL.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Angels-Astros odds:
MLB odds: Angels-Astrs Odds
Angels: +1.5 (-105)
Astros: -1.5 (-115)
Over: 8 (-105)
Under: 8 (-115)
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Why The Angels Could Cover The Spread
The Angels will go with Jose Suarez on the hill. Suarez is 1-2 with a 4.36 ERA in eight appearances. He tossed six innings in his last appearance, which came in relief of an opener during the infamous Angels-Mariners brawl. Suarez allowed one earned run on five hits to pick up his first win. He has not had the same success against the Astros. Also, Suarez tossed 4 1/3 innings in his last matchup with the Astros on April 10. He allowed two earned runs on two hits with four walks. Suarez is 2-3 with a 5.10 ERA in eight appearances and six starts against the Astros in his career. Also, only one of his six starts against the Astros has gone over five innings. The offense needs work, as the Angels' lineup has five hits in the series, including 28 strikeouts.
Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani are the keys to the success of the Angels' offense. However, Trout is struggling against Houston, batting .150 with one home run, one RBI, and one run against the Astros through six games in 2022. He is batting .255 with 26 home runs, 63 RBIs, and 81 runs scored through 129 games against the Astros. Additionally, Trout is hitting a measly .208 with 11 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 33 runs scored against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Trout has struck out seven times in seven at-bats in this series.
Ohtani has not been much better, batting .171 with one home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored in nine games against the Astros in 2022. Likewise, he is also batting a pathetic .186 with six home runs, 12 RBIs, and 14 runs scored through his career in 30 games at Minute Maid Park. Ohtani has one home run in this series, but otherwise, has been silent.
The only way the Angels cover the spread today is if Suarez can pitch a decent game. Additionally, the Angels need six innings out of him and minimal mistakes. They also need Trout, Ohtani, and Taylor Ward to all hit the baseball. However, one of them hitting the baseball will just result in one run again.
Why The Astros Could Cover The Spread
The Astros are going with Framber Valdez on the hill. Valdez is 8-3 with a 2.65 ERA in 2022. Likewise, he tossed eight scoreless innings in his last start, allowing just six hits. Valdez has pitched two different games against the Angels this year. He dominated them at Angels Stadium, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings with just two hits allowed. Then, Valdez crumbled at home against the Angels, allowing six earned runs on eight hits with four walks through 4 1/3 innings. Which Valdez shows up today?
The Astros have three sluggers that torture the Angels. Altuve, Tucker, and Alex Bregman all have dominated the Angels in the past and will be key to finishing off the sweep. The Astros will cover the spread if Valdez gives them six strong innings. Additionally, they finish the sweep if Altuve, Tucker, and Bregman deliver. Hitting five home runs again would help.
Final Angels-Astros Prediction & Pick
The Astros have dominated the Angels again this season. The Astros are 6-3 against the Angels, including 3-2 at Minute Maid Park. Additionally, the Astros have gone 31-17 against the Angels at Minute Maid Park since 2017, winning 64 percent of the games played there. The Angels have shown virtually no life throughout this series, and Jose Suarez is not good against the Astros. Expect the Astros to win while covering, finishing a three-game sweep of the Halos.
Final Angels-Astros Prediction & Pick: Astros: -1.5 (-115)
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