The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels faced off on opening day yesterday with the Astros holding on for a 3-1 victory. Oddsmakers are expecting a higher scoring contest in the second of this four-game series, with the Over/Under at 9.5 and the Halos installed as slim -120 home favorites.
Here are our best free MLB picks and predictions for Astros vs. Angels on Friday, April 8, with first pitch scheduled for 9:38 p.m. ET.
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Astros vs Angels odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
This line hit the board as a pick'em with the Over/Under at 9. Early money has come in on the Angels and the Over, shifting the line to Los Angeles -120 and moving the total to 9.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until kickoff and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.
Astros vs Angels predictions
Picks made on 4/8/2022 at 4 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Astros vs Angels game info
• Location: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
• Date: Friday, April 8, 2022
• First pitch: 9:38 p.m. ET
• TV: Apple TV+
Astros vs Angels betting preview
Starting pitchers
Jake Odorizzi (2021: 6-7, 4.21 ERA): The veteran righty posted middling numbers in his first year with Houston in 2021 but that was still a big improvement from an injury-plagued 2020 campaign in Minnesota.
Odorizzi is solid if unspectacular and has a 3.95 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP in 215 career starts.
Reid Detmers (2021: 1-3, 7.40 ERA): The 22-year-old southpaw will try to carve out a role in the Angels rotation this season after a rough welcome in the big leagues last year.
He did impress at Double-A Rocket City in 2021 and also looked sharp in spring training this year, scattering six hits and surrendering two runs while fanning 11 batters in 5.2 innings.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Astros: Jake Meyers OF (Out).
Angels: Taylor Ward RF (Out), Chris Rodriguez RP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Astros are 35-17 in the last 52 meetings in Los Angeles. Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Angels.
Astros vs Angels 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.
Moneyline analysis
Both of these high-powered lineups were held in check last night but that was against a pair of strong starters in L.A.'s Shohei Ohtani and Houston's Framber Valdez. Tonight Houston will send Jake Odorizzi to the mound while the Halos will respond with Reid Detmers.
Neither option is great, but Odorizzi is a reliable veteran who made the All-Star team in 2019 when he went 14-7 with a 3.51 ERA for the Twins. He's no world-beater, but he's a better option at this stage of his career than young Reid Detmers who was roughed up in five starts last year pitching to a 1.79 WHIP with a .295 OBA.
To be fair, Detmers still has a very bright future but it's tough to trust him in this one, especially against a star-studded Astros lineup that mashes against lefties.
The Stros led the majors in scoring (5.33 runs per game) and were second in OPS (.783) last season, with the OPS ticking up to .789 versus southpaws like Detmers. Although they lost Carlos Correa in the offseason, they still have plenty of firepower with a lineup that includes Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley, Kyle Tucker, and Yuli Gurriel.
The Angels have plenty of big bats of their own, but their lineup isn't quite as deep and we have yet to see them put it all together. With the Astros 10-3 in the last 13 meetings between these AL West foes, we're backing them as slim underdogs tonight.
Prediction: Astros ML (+100 at William Hill)
Over/Under analysis
The Halos had just four hits (including three singles) last night but they are capable of much more. Shohei Ohtani is coming off an MVP campaign where he clubbed 46 home runs, and he'll be joined by a healthy Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon who can both mash. Add in David Fletcher, Jared Walsh, and promising prospect Jo Adell, and this is an L.A. team that should be able to generate plenty of runs.
The Astros are more of a proven commodity in terms of offensive production after finishing among the Top-5 scoring teams in the majors in four of the last five years (the only exception being the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign). There's no reason to think that they won't continue to be one of the hardest-hitting teams in the majors.
Even after last night's low-scoring matchup, the Over is still 21-10 in the last 31 meetings between these squads, which makes me lean towards the Over tonight.
Prediction: Over 9.5 (-115 at Bet365)
Best bet
We think this Astros lineup will break out in a big way tonight. Detmers is an excellent prospect, but facing the Astros is a tough matchup for him in this spot.
To be fair, the only quality start of his career came against the Stros last year, but Houston's experienced bats will be able to take advantage of him the second time around.
Pick: Astros team total Over 4.5 (-120 at Bet365)
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