Astros vs. Angels Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 7/1/2022

Two of the league’s top power hitters will meet Friday when the Houston Astros (48-27) and Los Angeles Angels (37-41) take the field at 8:10 PM ET. Yordan Alvarez has 23 home runs for the Astros (-153 favorites on the moneyline) while Mike Trout has 23 homers this season for the Angels (+131). Houston’s Cristian Javier and Los Angeles’ Michael Lorenzen have been named the starters for this contest.

Astros vs. Angels Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Angels

Our best bet is the Angels on the moneyline at +131 after analyzing all of the key stats and trends for this matchup. Our computer projects the scoring will over the total of 8.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Los Angeles Angels (+131) and Over (8.5)

Astros vs. Angels Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Cristian Javier
• Los Angeles Angels probable starting pitcher: Michael Lorenzen
• Game Day: Friday, July 1, 2022
• Game Time: 8:10 PM ET
• Location: Houston, Texas
• Stadium: Minute Maid Park

Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Cristian Javier

• Javier (5-3 with a 2.73 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings pitched) gets the start for the Astros, his 11th of the season.
• The righty’s last appearance was on Saturday against the New York Yankees, when he threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit.
• The 25-year-old has an ERA of 2.73, with 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings, in 14 games this season. Opponents are batting .188 against him.
• Javier has recorded three quality starts this year.
• Javier will look to prolong a four-game streak of pitching five or more innings (he’s averaging 4.1 innings per appearance).
• He will match up with an Angels offense that is batting .237 as a unit (19th in MLB). It is also slugging a collective .401 (13th in MLB) with 96 total home runs (seventh in MLB).
• Javier has thrown 5 1/3 innings without giving up an earned run on five hits, while striking out seven against the Angels this season.

Angels Starter Michael Lorenzen

• Lorenzen (6-5) will take the mound for the Angels, his 13th start of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Saturday, when he gave up two earned runs and allowed four hits in 3 2/3 innings against the Seattle Mariners.
• The 30-year-old has pitched in 12 games this season with an ERA of 4.24, a 1.857 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.265.
• He has started 12 games this season, earning a quality start (6 or more IP, 3 or fewer ER) in seven of them.
• Lorenzen has nine starts of five or more innings this season in 12 chances. He averages 5.2 innings per outing.
• The Astros are batting .237 this season, 19th in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .415 (eighth in the league) with 103 home runs.
• This season, the right-hander has pitched against the Astros in one game, and they have gone 4-for-14 with a home run and four RBI over 3 1/3 innings.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Astros have been favored 60 times and won 41, or 68.3%, of those games.
• Houston has entered 34 games this season favored by -153 or more and is 22-12 in those contests.
• The moneyline for this contest implies a 60.5% chance of a victory for the Astros.
• Games involving Houston have gone over the total set by bookmakers in 24 of 76 chances this season.
• The Astros are 40-36-0 against the spread in their 76 chances this season.

Angels Betting Picks & Insights

• The Angels have been underdogs in 24 games this season and have come away with the win six times (25%) in those contests.
• Los Angeles has a mark of 2-5 in contests where oddsmakers favor them by +131 or worse on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Angels have a 43.3% chance of walking away with the win.
• Los Angeles and their opponents have hit the over in 34 of their 78 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
• The Angels have posted a record of 36-42-0 against the spread this season.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Alvarez is the bat to watch in the Astros lineup, leading the team in batting average (.316), home runs (23), and RBI (56).
• Of all hitters in baseball, Alvarez’s home run total places him second, and his RBI tally ranks him sixth.
• Kyle Tucker has 11 doubles, 15 home runs and 38 walks while hitting .254.
• Tucker ranks 20th in homers in baseball, and 11th in RBI.
• Alex Bregman is hitting .242 with 16 doubles, nine home runs and 44 walks.
• Bregman has at least one base hit in four straight games. In his last five games he is batting .333 with a double, three walks and three RBI.
• Jose Altuve has 13 doubles, 15 home runs and 26 walks while hitting .264.

Angels Leaders & Batting Stats

• Trout paces the Angels with 23 homers while racking up a team-leading batting average of .285.
• Among all hitters in MLB, Trout’s home run total ranks second and his RBI tally ranks 18th.
• Trout brings a hitting streak of two games into this game. In his last five games he is batting .222 with two doubles, a home run, three walks and two RBI.
• Shohei Ohtani has capitalized on opportunities as he paces his team with 49 runs batted in.
• Among all major league hitters, Ohtani is 13th in homers and 14th in RBI.
• Taylor Ward is batting .312 with 10 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 29 walks.
• Jared Walsh is hitting .256 with 12 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 14 walks.