The Houston Astros take on the Los Angeles Angels. Check out our MLB odds series for our Astros Angels prediction and pick.
Cristian Javier gets the start for the Astros, while Shohei Ohtani takes the bump for the Angels.
Cristian Javier has a 3.01 ERA. A pattern has emerged for him this season: He has one bad outing every three to four starts, more or less. Javier gave up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings on May 14. His next three starts were great. He allowed two runs in 15 2/3 innings. On June 6, he suffered a bad start. The Mariners got to him for five runs in 3 2/3 innings. His next four starts after that performance were superb. He allowed four runs in 25 innings. Then, in his most recent start on July 6, the Royals tagged him for five runs in five innings. If history is any indication, and if this larger pattern continues, Javier should deliver a strong start against the Halos.
Shohei Ohtani has been plainly dominant in his last five starts. He has given up just two runs, only one of them earned, in his last 33 2/3 innings. He has taken his ERA from 3.99 on June 2 down to 2.44. He has been close to untouchable. More stats from his last five starts: just 16 hits allowed and 46 strikeouts. That's an average of three hits allowed and nine strikeouts per game, in nearly seven innings per start over those five starts. Ohtani might lose games in which he and Mike Trout hit home runs, but when he himself pitches, the Angels are 5-0 in their last five games. What he is doing is truly amazing.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Astros-Angels MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Astros-Angels Odds
Houston Astros: -1.5 (+168)
Los Angeles Angels: +1.5 (-205)
Over: 7 (-106)
Under: 7 (-114)
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Why The Astros Could Cover the Spread
The Astros are a much better team than the Angels, something which doesn't require any explanation. Notably, the Astros have won consecutive games — on Sunday in Oakland versus the A's, then on Tuesday in Anaheim versus the Angels — without Yordan Alvarez, who is injured and recuperating, and whom the team hopes to have for some big games against the Yankees right after the All-Star break. The Astros can withstand the loss of Alvarez and have the pitching and the balanced batting order to overcome a lot of hardships and limitations. The Angels are continuing to sink in the standings. Houston certainly enjoys the benefit of the doubt here.
Why The Angels Could Cover the Spread
Shohei Ohtani is pitching for them. We did note how good Ohtani has been in his last five starts, but in his last three starts, he has been especially overwhelming. Ohtani has struck out 34 hitters in his last three outings, an average of 11.3 strikeouts per game. He is so locked in right now that no elite team is likely to rough him up. Even though the Angels are a bad team, when Ohtani pitches, they are regularly winning games in the middle third of the season. Ohtani didn't pitch all that well in April and May, but this new and improved version we have seen in June and early July is going to dominate.
Final Astros-Angels Prediction & Pick
If Ohtani loses a 3-1 game, it won't be his fault. The Angels will have failed to pick him up. Ohtani is in such great form right now, but the Astros are a really good team. Frankly, this is a stay-away game, but if you do make a pick, the Astros getting that plus money on the run line is probably the best choice.
Final Astros-Angels Prediction & Pick: Astros -1.5
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