Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels Prediction: Expect the Offense to Shine
Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels Prediction: Expect the Offense to Shine
No matter how many players the Astros lose to free agency, Houston always finds a way to replenish and win. The Astros are just a winning organization and their opponent isn't.
On paper, the Angels have a better lineup. On paper, the Angels look better. But ultimately, the Astros develop talent and produce talent. That's the difference and we're already seeing it one day into the season.
Will the Angels get their first win of the season tonight? Here are our picks, predictions, and odds for the second game of the series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels.
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Astros vs. Angels Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds
- Date: April 8, 2022
- Game Time: 9:38 pm ET
- Where to Watch: Apple TV+
Astros vs. Angels Injury Report
Astros
Out: OF Jake Meyers (Shoulder)
Angels
Out: OF Tyler Ward (Groin)
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Astros vs. Angels Line Movement
Astros vs. Angels Opening Day Prediction
The Angels will be starting rookie pitcher Reid Detmers for his first start of the 2022 season. In 2021, Detmers showed potential but wasn't all that great. Detmers had an xFIP of 6.50 with just 18.8% strikeouts and 10.9% walks.
He didn't give up much line-drive contact and only faced a little over 100 batters, however, lefties had a .402 wOBA in 24 plate appearances while righties had a wOBA of .381 in 77 plate appearances.
Strikeouts were high against lefties but very low against righties for Detmers last season. He's going to put it all together and until he does, I'd be concerned for Detmers going up against Houston.
The Astros have plenty of power from the left side including Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. Both of those batters have a high ISO with high wOBA. Meanwhile, the rest of the lineup is right-handed going up against the lefty Detmers.
With so many right-handed bats in the lineup, Detmers will likely earn a limited amount of strikeouts and watch the walks tick up a bit. It's not a great matchup for him going up against a Houston lineup that had a .205 ISO against lefties last season combined.
Meanwhile, the Astros are throwing Jake Odorizzi who had a 5.06 xFIP last season with just 35.7% ground balls. Lefties hit a .354 wOBA with a .221 ISO and righties also had a .190 ISO against him.
The Angels should be able to show off some power tonight with Mike Trout and Jared Walsh expected to be at the top of the order. Both of those guys can absolutely smash right-handed pitching and it helps when a guy like Jake Odorizzi is on the mound.
The Angels lineup won't be as consistent as the Astros' but overall, runs should come from both sides in this game. Neither starting pitcher is going to have a great outing.
Therefore, I'll take the Over 9.5 in this matchup.
Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels Pick
- Over 9.5 (-115) (Bet $115 to Win $100)
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Article Author
Jason grew up an avid sports fan. His passion for sports writing grew in high school and he developed a blog that was strictly for New York Sports. From his work, you will quickly realize that he loves looking at games from an analytical and numbers perspective and hopes to provide you with that same perspective in his articles.