The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels play Game 2 of their current series on Wednesday at the Angel Stadium in Anaheim.
Houston defeated Los Angeles 6-5 on Tuesday after blowing a 4-run lead and rallying to win 6-5. With the win, the Astros improved to 57-29 on the season and they are in 1st place in the AL West Division. Houston has won eight out of its last 10 games played and has cut the New York Yankees’ lead in the American League and overall MLB standings to only 3.5 games.
Meanwhile, the Angels fell to 38-50 after Tuesday’s loss. Los Angeles is 4th in the AL West Division standings and is 20 games behind the Astros in the Division Standings. Los Angeles is just 1-9 in their last 10 games played and they have lost their last five assignments. They are also 8 games off the 2nd wild card spot in the AL.
Houston took two of three against the Athletics before beating the Angels in Game 1 of this series on Tuesday. The Astros are way ahead of their competition in the AL West Division. Houston has also come to within 3.5 games of the New York Yankees in the League and overall team standings.
Cristian Javier will take the mound for the Astros on Tuesday. The 25-year-old from the Dominican Republic has a record of 6-4 with an ERA of 3.01 and a WHIP of 0.99 in 16 outings including 12 starts. Javier has given up 24 earned runs on 47 hits with 02 strikeouts and 27 walks in a total of 74.2 innings pitched.
In his last start, Javier allowed five earned runs on four hits in 5.0 innings pitched. He took the loss as the Astros dropped a 7-4 contest to the Royals. Houston is 5-3 in his last eight starts.
The Angels got swept by the Baltimore Orioles in their previous series before dropping the opening game of this series on Tuesday. The Angels are too far back from the Astros in the division standings and are almost 10 games from the second wild-card spot in the American League.
For the Angels, reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani will open on top of the mound on Wednesday. The 28-year-old from Japan is 8-4 with an ERA of 2.44 and a WHIP of 0.99. Ohtani has allowed only 22 earned runs on 60 hits in 81.0 innings pitched with 111 strikeouts and 20 home runs.
Ohtani picked up the win in his last start as he pitched seven scoreless innings with only two hits allowed with 10 strikeouts during a 5-2 win over the Marlins. The Angels are 5-0 in Ohtani’s last five starts.
The Astros are 50-23 in their last 73 meetings against the Angels. Houston is 37-18 in their last 55 games played in Los Angeles.
The Astros are:
45-18 in their last 63 overall.
4-1 in their last 5 road games.
11-1 in their last 12 road games versus a right-handed starter.
6-1 in their last 7 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
5-1 in their last 6 Games 2s of a series.
4-1 in their last 5 road games against a team with a losing record.
4-1 in their last 5 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
21-7 in their last 28 games versus the American League West Division.
38-14 in their last 52 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
8-3 in their last 11 Wednesday games.
48-18 in their last 66 games on grass.
5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
20-9 in their last 29 road games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
35-16 in their last 51 games against a right-handed starter.
35-16 in their last 51 opposite a team with a losing record.
The Angels are:
15-36 in their last 51 overall.
6-15 in their last 21 home games.
15-36 in their last 51 games on grass.
3-7 in their last 10 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
20-41 in their last 61 games versus a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
3-8 in their last 11 home games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
8-24 in their last 32 games against a right-handed starter.
4-12 in their last 16 home games against a right-handed starter.
5-16 in their last 21 Games 2s of a series.
5-16 in their last 21 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
1-5 in their last 6 opposite the American League West Division.
1-5 in their last 6 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
1-10 in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600.
Ohtani is having another phenomenal season. He’s doing things on the mound and the plate once again for the Angels. As a pitcher, he’s allowed only one earned run in two starts against the Astros this year. Offensively, he has produced 19 home runs and 54 RBIs this season.
The Astros are having another fantastic season and they have won 8 out of their last 10 games played. Houston has cut the Yankees’ lead down to 3.5 games both in the League and overall standings. They know they can get closer if they win this game. Javier was 1-0 in three games against the Angels last season with an ERA of 0.73 in 12.1 innings.
I really love how Ohtani has played this season but he and Mike Trout have not gotten the needed support from their cast to be successful. Meanwhile, the Astros are rolling right now and they are at home in this game. Give me the home team to deliver the victory in front of their home fans.
Prediction: Houston Astros
The total has gone over in five out of the last seven meetings between these two teams. However, the under is 4-1 in their last five meetings in Los Angeles.
Houston Astros over/under trends:
Under is 5-2-1 in the Astros’ last 8 road games.
Under is 3-0-1 in the Astros’ last 4 games against a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 20-8 in the Astros’ last 28 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Under is 22-10 in the Astros’ last 32 road games against. a right-handed starter.
Under is 18-7 in the Astros’ last 25 road games versus a team with a losing record.
Under is 18-7-1 in the Astros’ last 26 Games 2s of a series.
Under is 8-3-1 in the Astros’ last 12 road games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Under is 25-11-1 in the Astros’ last 37 road games against the American League.
Under is 22-8 in the Astros’ last 30 versus American League West.
Over is 4-1-1 in the Astros’ last 6 Wednesday games.
Over is 3-0-1 in the Astros’ last 4 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Over is 5-0 in the Astros’ last 5 games opposite a right-handed starter.
Over is 11-4 in the Astros’ last 15 games played in July.
Los Angeles Angels over/under trends:
Under is 17-6-3 in the Angels’ last 26 games played overall.
Under is 5-1-1 in the Angels’ last 7 home games.
Under is 4-1 in the Angels’ last five Wednesday games.
Under is 13-4 in the Angels’ last 17 games as a betting favorite.
Under is 3-0-1 in the Angels’ last 4 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Under is 4-0-2 in the Angels’ last 6 Wednesday games.
Under is 8-2-2 in the Angels’ last 12 games opposite a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 4-1-1 in the Angels’ last 6 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
Under is 9-3-2 in the Angels’ last 14 versus the American League West Division.
Under is 3-1-1 in the Angels’ last 5 games against a right-handed starter.
Under is 3-1-1 in the Angels’ last 5 home games versus a right-handed starter.
Under is 17-6-3 in the Angels’ last 26 on grass.
Under is 5-2 in the Angels’ last 7 home games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Under is 7-3-1 in the Angels’ last 11 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
Over is 18-6-7 in the Angels’ last 31 Games 2s of a series.
Over
7 (-110)
Under
7 (-110)
Odds from BetOnline as of 07/13/2022
Both these teams have good numbers when hitting against right-handed starters but these are two fantastic pitchers who can keep the opposing team in check. They have also done well in this matchup this season.
Ohtani has allowed only one run in 10.2 innings pitched against the Astros this year while Javier has also conceded only a single run to the Angels in 12.1 innings thrown against them this season.
I like these starters to pitch into the 5th or 6th innings and because of that, both teams will struggle to score runs during that stretch. The difference will likely come when the starters are pulled from this game. Houston has the best bullpen ERA in the majors at only 2.63 runs per game allowed while the Angels are in the bottom 11 with an ERA of 4.13 This should be where the Astros pull off the win but even then, this one will likely end up as a low-scoring contest.
Prediction: Under 7
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