Los Angeles Angels vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Struggling Los Angeles Angels Face Uphill Battle Against Dominant Houston Astros in AL West Showdown

The Los Angeles Angels are struggling, losing seven of their last 10 games and sitting in last place in the AL West. With the second fewest wins in the AL, they have been eliminated from playoff contention. The Houston Astros, on the other hand, have won six of their last eight games and are leading the AL West with a five-game lead over the second place Seattle Mariners. In Game 2 of this series, the Astros are heavily favored at -240 with an over/under of 8 runs. Tyler Anderson will be starting for the Angels while Justin Verlander will take the mound for the Astros.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Angels +210 | Astros -240
• Spread: Angels +1.5 (-102) | Astros -1.5 (-115)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 71%.

Los Angeles vs Houston Stats

Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels recently lost to the Houston Astros 3-1 after winning two consecutive games. The team has struggled to win three in a row since the All-Star break. In the loss, L.A. only managed six hits, with Taylor Ward scoring the lone run with a solo home run. The Angels rank 26th in team ERA and 27th in runs scored for the season. Ward leads the team in home runs and is tied for RBI, with two home runs and four RBI in the last five games. On the other hand, Zach Neto has not recorded an RBI in the last six games, with a .218 batting average this month. The Angels have a road record of 30-45 this season. Tyler Anderson will be starting Game 2 with a 10-13 record and a 3.60 ERA. In his last start, he gave up four runs in a loss to the Astros. The team has lost his last two starts, with Anderson surrendering four runs in two of his last three outings. The Angels have a power ranking of 24, ranking 27th in offense and 26th in defense, with a season record of 62-91.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros have had a successful second half of the season, positioning themselves well to win the AL West for the fourth consecutive year. In their recent 3-1 victory against the Angels, they had six hits, with Jon Singleton contributing two RBIs and Victor Caratini adding one RBI.

The team currently ranks sixth in the Majors for team ERA and 13th in runs scored. Yordan Alvarez leads the club in batting average, home runs, and RBIs, with strong performances in recent games. Jose Altuve is also performing well, leading the team in at-bats and batting .323 in September.

When Justin Verlander took the mound in their last game against the Angels, he pitched five innings and allowed two runs on four hits, contributing to the Astros' win. Despite a rough stretch in previous outings, Verlander has shown improvement.

The Astros have a power ranking of 8 and are ranked 13th in offense, scoring an average of 4.57 runs per game, and 6th in defense, allowing an average of 3.99 runs per game. Their overall record is 83-70. However, the team struggled in recent matchups against the Angels, losing all three games.

Astros Dominate Opening Game and Predicted to Continue Strong Performance Against Angels

In the current division series, the Houston Astros have emerged victorious in the opening game and have shown strong performance by winning six out of their last eight games. In contrast, the Los Angeles Angels have encountered a string of defeats by losing seven out of their last ten games. During a recent series, Anderson faced Verlander on the mound, resulting in Anderson conceding four runs. Anderson's recent performances against the Astros have been consistent in giving up four runs in each of his last two starts against them. Conversely, Verlander, after struggling in previous games, showcased a strong performance in his last outing versus the Angels. Previous encounters between these pitchers on September 15th resulted in a 5-3 win for the Astros, indicating potential for another victory. Therefore, it is advisable to consider betting on the Astros with a run line of -1.5 runs at -115 for improved odds.

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