Astros vs. Angels Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 9/2/2022

The Houston Astros (84-47) visit the Los Angeles Angels (57-74) at 9:38 PM ET Friday for a sluggers’ duel between two of the best home-run hitters in baseball. Yordan Alvarez has racked up 31 homers this season (No. 6 in the league) for the favored Astros which sit as -190 favorites, while Shohei Ohtani ranks eighth in the majors with 30 dingers of his own for the underdogs. Lance McCullers Jr. will get the ball for Houston while Los Angeles counter with Ohtani.

Astros vs. Angels Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Astros vs. Angels

We have the Angels on the moneyline at +160 on the moneyline as our best bet in this game after taking a look at all of the key stats and trends for this matchup. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8 runs.

Our computer pick: Los Angeles Angels (+160) and Over (8)

Astros vs. Angels Game Info

• Houston Astros probable starting pitcher: Lance McCullers Jr.
• Los Angeles Angels probable starting pitcher: Shohei Ohtani
• Game Day: Friday, September 2, 2022
• Game Time: 9:38 PM ET
• Location: Anaheim, California
• Stadium: Angel Stadium

Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Pitching Matchup

Astros Starter Lance McCullers Jr.

• Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1 with a 1.69 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched) gets the start for the Astros, his fourth of the season.
• In his last time out on Saturday, the right-hander went five scoreless innings against the Baltimore Orioles while surrendering four hits.
• In three games this season, the 28-year-old has a 1.69 ERA and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing a batting average of .228 to opposing hitters.
• McCullers will look to extend a four-game streak of going five or more innings (he’s averaging 5.1 frames per outing).
• The opposing Angels offense has the 23rd-ranked slugging percentage (.381) and is 11th in MLB play with 151 home runs. It has a collective .228 batting average, and is 25th in MLB with 995 total hits and 25th in MLB play scoring 500 runs.

Angels Starter Shohei Ohtani

• The Angels will send out Ohtani for his first start of the season.
• He has pitched to a 2.67 ERA this season with 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 2.3 walks per nine across 22 games.
• The Astros rank 13th in MLB with a .245 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks sixth in the league (.421) and 172 home runs.

Astros Betting Picks & Insights

• The Astros have been favorites in 112 games this season and won 76 (67.9%) of those contests.
• Houston has a record of 27-14, a 65.9% win rate, when favored by -190 or more by oddsmakers this season.
• Sportsbooks have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Astros have a 65.5% chance to win.
• Houston’s games have gone over the total in 49 of their 132 chances.
• In 132 games with a spread this season, the Astros are 71-61-0 ATS.

Angels Betting Picks & Insights

• The Angels have come away with 20 wins in the 63 contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.
• This season, Los Angeles has come away with a win four times in 14 chances when named as an underdog of at least +160 or longer on the moneyline.
• The Angels have an implied victory probability of 38.5% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Los Angeles and their opponents have gone over in 58 of their 131 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.
• In 131 games with a line this season, the Angels have a mark of 62-69-0 against the spread.

Astros Leaders & Batting Stats

• Alex Bregman is hitting .267 with 34 doubles, 20 home runs and 72 walks.
• In all of Major League Baseball, Bregman is 40th in home runs and 19th in RBI.
• Alvarez’s 31 home runs and .294 batting average are both team-highs.
• Alvarez is sixth in homers and 15th in RBI among all hitters in baseball.
• Alvarez carries a two-game streak with at least one hit into this matchup. In his last five games he is hitting .250 with a double, two walks and an RBI.
• Kyle Tucker has a team-high 84 runs batted in.
• Tucker will look to build on his three-game hitting in this matchup. In his last five games he is hitting .263 with two doubles, a walk and two RBI.
• Jose Altuve is batting .284 with 31 doubles, 22 home runs and 52 walks.
• Altuve is riding a two-game hitting streak into this one. In his last five games he is hitting .300 with three doubles, a home run, two walks and three RBI.

Angels Leaders & Batting Stats

• Ohtani paces the Angels with 30 home runs and 82 runs batted in, while posting a team-best batting average of .269.
• Ohtani’s home run total puts him eighth in the big leagues, and he is 13th in RBI.
• Ohtani carries a four-game hitting streak into this matchup. In his last five games he is batting .444 with a double, three home runs, three walks and seven RBI.
• Mike Trout is batting .271 with 18 doubles, two triples, 28 home runs and 41 walks.
• Trout is currently 12th in homers and 65th in RBI in the big leagues.
• Taylor Ward has 14 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs and 49 walks while hitting .262.
• Luis Rengifo is batting .268 with 19 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs and 13 walks.