After taking the first two games of this four-game series to extend their winning streak to five straight, the Angels look for more against the Astros Wednesday night at the Big A. Felix Pena, who finished off a combined no-hitter his last time out, gets the call for LA here, while Houston counters with Gerrit Cole. Who do we like here for our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
As of this writing, Wednesday’s MLB betting odds were holding off on lining this game, perhaps waiting for more certain word on the status of Angels slugger Mike Trout.
Astros vs. Angels Set-Up
Los Angeles took the opener of this series Monday night 9-6, then won Tuesday 7-2. The Angels cashed in as +120 home dogs on the MLB betting line Monday and as +110 dogs Tuesday.
With Tuesday’s win, the Angels now own a five-game winning streak.
With Tuesday’s loss, the Astros are now 2-4 over their last six games.
At 59-37 overall Houston’s lead in the AL West is now down to just 4.5 games over second-place Oakland. In the battle for the best record in the American League the Astros also now trail the Yankees by 2.5 games
At 50-46 overall Los Angeles trails Houston by nine games in the AL West, but it’s also only 4.5 games behind Cleveland and the A’s in the race for the second American League wild-card spot.
The Astros now lead the season series with the Angels four games to three.
Wednesday’s Starting Arms
Pena is 0/4 on quality starts this season, to go along with 14 appearances in relief. As of late, he’s been coming in after “openers,” pitching several innings through the middle of the game. Most recently, last Friday, he tossed the final seven innings of that combined Los Angeles no-hitter against Seattle, allowing (obviously) no hits and just one walk with six strikeouts. And over his last four appearances, he’s allowed seven earned runs and nine hits through 20 innings, with 23 whiffs, although he’s also walked eight over that span.
The Angels are 2-2 in Pena’s starts this season.
Over three career appearances against Houston, one this year and two last year, Pena allowed six runs and 13 hits through 17 innings.
Cole, by our strict standards, is 14/20 on quality starts this year and eight for his last nine. Last Friday he gave up four runs and five hits through six innings, with 13 strikeouts, in a game the Astros lost to Texas 9-8. But over his eight starts prior to that Cole allowed just 10 ER and 35 hits through 51 innings, with 70 K’s.
Houston is 13-7 with Cole this season, 3-1 over his last four starts.
Over his last five starts against Los Angeles, four last year and one earlier this month, Cole allowed ten runs and 24 hits through 31 2/3 innings. The Astros won four of those five games, each by at least two runs.
Wednesday’s Batting Splits
Houston is batting .264/.337/.455 against right-handed pitching this season. This lineup has also scored at least six runs four of its last five times out.
Los Angeles is batting .270/.344/.457 against RH pitching this season. This lineup has also scored 54 runs over its last six games. And while Trout has missed the last couple of games with a sore calf, there’s a chance he could return to the lineup Wednesday night.
Get more picks: Check out our Free Picks Page for our full list of game previews.
The Bullpens
The Astros bullpen owns a 3.86 ERA this season and a 1.22 WHIP while allowing a .690 OPS. Numbers like those help this unit rank among the top three bullpens in Baseball right now.
The Angels pen owns a 4.39 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP while allowing a .751 OPS.
Totals Report
- Unders are 49-42 in Astros games this season.
- Unders are 45-44 in Angels games this season.
- Unders are 24-23 in games played at Angel Stadium this season.
- Overs are 4-2 in Astros-Angels games this season.
- Unders are 4-0 in Pena’s starts this season.
- Get more details: Houston at LA Angels MLB Match-up Stats
