The Los Angeles Angels come into their three-game series against the Houston Astros on a high note, after taking two of three games from the White Sox.
Will the Astros keep the Angels at bay, or will Los Angeles find a way to take the first of three games between these two?
Find out with our free MLB betting picks and predictions for Angels vs. Astros on July 1.
Angels vs Astros odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
The Astros opened at -149 and has dipped a bit, and shot up all the way to -175 at Caesars Sportsbook. The Angels began at +135 and have gone up to +148. The total has stayed at 8.5 with the Over at +105 and the Under at -115.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until first pitch and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.
Angels vs Astros predictions
Picks made on 7/1/2022 at 12:20 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Angels vs Astros game info
• Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
• Date: Friday, July 1, 2022
• First pitch: 8:10 p.m. ET
• TV: Apple TV+
Angels vs Astros betting preview
Starting pitchers
Michael Lorenzen (6-5, 4.24 ERA): The 30-year-old veteran is having a rough June. He has lost three of his four starts this month, including his last two games, both of which came against the Mariners. In his most recent start, a week ago, he went just three innings, allowing two runs on four hits.
Cristian Javier (5-3, 2.73 ERA): Javier has improved on every start in June. His most recent start was his fifth win of the season, in which he threw seven innings of no-hit ball against the New York Yankees.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Betting trend to know
The Angels are 9-22 in the last 31 meetings in Houston. Find more MLB betting trends for Angels vs. Astros
Angels vs Astros picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Run line analysis
In Cristian Javier’s last start, he threw seven innings of no-hit ball against one of the most powerful offenses in baseball, before relievers Hector Neris and Ryan Pressly finished it up for the team’s first combined no-hitter since 2019.
Javier said he could have continued pitching, but his count was 115 and manager Dusty Baker decided to pull him. The pitch count was the highest in his career, and he also matched his career-high for innings with seven.
Javier’s performance should bode well for Friday’s game. He has had a fantastic June, improving in every start. Javier has allowed three runs in his last three games and seven hits. He has also struck out 25 in those three games.
The Angels do not have a lineup comparable to the Yankees, as they are 21st in batting average, 14th in hits, and 14th in runs.
Los Angeles is down two third basemen now. Anthony Rendon is lost for the year with a wrist injury and the team put Matt Duffy on the IR because of a bad back. The team has counted on the 1-2 punch of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, who are first and second in home runs, runs, and RBI, but it can only take the Angels so far.
They are also getting contributions from Jared Walsh and Taylor Ward, but this is a lineup that Javier should be able to handle.
Prediction: Astros -1.5 (+143 at Caesars)
Over/Under analysis
As well as Javier has pitched, he is probably ready to come back to earth a bit and the Angels’ bats could assist with that. I don’t think the righty will get shelled, but he’s not pitching another no-hitter. His ERA for June is 3.32 and allowing the Angels to get a couple of runs off of him is a definite possibility.
The one that should help this game get to the Over is Lorenzen. The veteran struggled mightily in June. He lost three of his four games and allowed 15 runs in those four contests, as well as 22 hits. The right-hander had an ERA of 6.75 for June and in an outing two weeks ago was blaming slick baseballs.
If the Astros get to Lorenzen, it probably won’t be via the home run, as he has only allowed five all year. He has, however, coughed up 32 runs in 67 innings. If he pitches three to four innings, the Over will be well on its way to cashing.
The Astros’ bats have produced 322 runs in 75 games for an average of 4.29 per game. They rank 15th in RBI with 312, for a 4.18 per-game average.
The Over is also 4-0 for the Astros in the last four during Game 1 of a series and has hit five of the last eight home games against a right-handed starter.
Prediction: Over 8.5 (+110 at Caesars)
Best bet
There is a reason the Astros are in first place in the AL West and the Angels are 12.5 games behind them.
Having a rest doesn’t do the Angels any favors, as they are 0-4 in their last four games following an off day.
Javier has a WHIP of 1.05 and the Angels are 3-12 in their last 15 games against a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Houston is 4-1 in its last five against a team with a losing record and 19-7 in its last 26 home games.
The Astros are also 16-6 in their last 22 against AL West teams and 22-9 in the last 31 meetings against the Angels.
Pick: Astros -1.5 (+143 at Caesars)
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