Los Angeles Angels (61-90) vs. Houston Astros (82-69)
The excitement of the 2024 Major League Baseball season continues on Thursday, September 19, as the Los Angeles Angels face the Houston Astros in an AL West showdown at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, set for 8:10 PM ET.
This matchup marks the beginning of a four-game series, with the Astros aiming for their fourth consecutive victory against the Angels. The betting odds favor Houston significantly at -295 on the moneyline, with a total set at 8.5 runs.
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Angels Break Their Losing Streak
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Angels managed to halt a six-game losing streak. They hosted the struggling Chicago White Sox for the finale of a three-game series. After suffering an 8-4 defeat in the series opener on Monday, the Angels bounced back impressively, securing a 5-0 win in the second game.
During the rough stretch, the Angels only managed to score 23 runs while allowing 40 to their opponents. Their batting statistics were concerning, with a slash line of .204/.290/.325, including just four doubles and five home runs over the last week with 157 at-bats.
Jose Suarez is set to take the mound for the Angels at Minute Maid Park. The 26-year-old left-hander has a record of 1-2, coupled with a challenging 6.80 ERA and 1.70 WHIP from one start and 19 relief appearances this season.
Suarez has shown signs of improvement in his recent outings, allowing only five hits and one walk while not giving up any runs in seven innings of work this month. Notably, he pitched four scoreless innings against the Astros last Friday, contributing to a no-decision.
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Astros Eyeing AL West Title
The Houston Astros, currently at 82-69, played against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night. This matchup concluded a three-game series, with the Astros winning 4-3 in ten innings after dropping the first game 3-1.
Houston has been in excellent form, winning five out of their last six games. They scored a total of 27 runs during this span, posting a slash line of .277/.340/.423, alongside 13 doubles and six home runs in 213 at-bats. As of Wednesday morning, they held a five-game lead over the second-place Seattle Mariners in the AL West standings.
Yusei Kikuchi is projected to start for the Astros on Thursday. The left-handed pitcher has a record of 9-9 with a 4.29 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 30 starts this season, contributing a total of 163.2 innings pitched between Toronto and Houston. Since joining the Astros, Kikuchi has improved, recording a 3.19 ERA and 3.36 FIP in eight starts and 48 innings.
Best Bets for Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros
In their last encounter, Yusei Kikuchi faced the Angels and secured a 5-3 victory at Angel Stadium. He allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks over seven innings, while striking out six batters. The Angels have struggled against left-handed pitchers recently, reflecting a wRC+ of 56 and a .529 OPS in 74 plate appearances over the past ten days. Therefore, backing the Astros to cover the runline seems a sound decision.
The Astros have excelled against lefties during this period, achieving a wRC+ of 138 and an OPS of .836 over 120 plate appearances. Their lineup’s performance is expected to be impactful, especially with both bullpens showing strong form. Notably, the current Astros roster is 21-for-76 against Suarez, hitting five doubles and two home runs in the process.
