The Los Angeles Angels and the Houston Astros meet Friday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. The Angels are coming off a series versus the Giants, winning two of three games. As for the Astros, they just played the Orioles. Houston won the first pair in that set, then in the Thursday finale the Astros lost by a single run. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Los Angeles Angels 

The Angels lost 8-3 to the Giants on Monday, but the team was able to bounce back for wins 7-5 in game two and 4-1 in the finale. During Wednesday’s victory, Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani scored a run and drew two walks while also firing off 6.0 clean innings, three hits, three walks and five Ks from the mound. 

In the starter role for the Angels on Friday, it’ll be Reid Detmers. Over his 20 starts so far Detmers is 2-8 with a 4.78 ERA and 131 Ks in 105.1 innings. Detmers is 1-3 with a 6.25 ERA in his last seven starts, logging 25 earned in 36.0 innings. 

Los Angeles Angels Team Facts

• The Angels have lost each of their last eight games against the Astros following a home win.
• The Angels have covered the run line in each of their last seven games as underdogs against American League opponents following a home win.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Angels’ last five games as road underdogs against AL West opponents.
• The Angels have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last five games at Minute Maid Park against American League opponents that held a winning record.

Los Angeles Angels Player Prop Facts

• Randal Grichuk has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances with his team as an underdog against AL opponents.
• C.J. Cron has scored at least one run in each of his last eight appearances with his team as an underdog against AL opponents.
• Shohei Ohtani has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Angels’ last four games as underdogs against the Astros.
• Reid Detmers has recorded six strikeouts in four of his last five appearances with the Angels as underdogs against the Astros.
• Mike Moustakas has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 12 appearances against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
• Brandon Drury has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 15 appearances after not playing the previous day.
• Shohei Ohtani ranks T1st in the league in Home Runs (40) this season.

Houston Astros 

Over on the Houston side, they eked out a win over Baltimore 7-6 in their Tuesday opener, then followed that up with an 8-2 win in game two. Jose Altuve bagged three RBI and a pair of runs in that one. In the Thursday finale the Astros missed out on the sweep with a tough 5-4 loss. Yainer Diaz went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI, and Altuve had four hits, two runs and a solo home run. 

Justin Verlander will take the mound for the Astros on Friday. In his 17 starts this season Verlander is 6-6 with a 3.11 ERA and 85 Ks in 101.1 innings. Verlander is 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA in his last six starts, posting just seven earned over 37.1 innings. 

Houston Astros Team Facts

• The Astros have won each of their last eight games following a road loss.
• The Astros have covered the run line in each of their last eight home games against AL West opponents following a road loss.
• The Astros have led after 5 innings in each of their last five games against the Angels at Minute Maid Park.
• The Astros have led after 7 innings in each of their last eight Friday games against the Angels.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last four games.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Kyle Tucker has hit a home run in three of the Astros’ last four night games.
• Kyle Tucker has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Astros’ last six night games.
• Kyle Tucker has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Astros’ last four night games.
• Justin Verlander has recorded seven or more strikeouts in 13 of his last 17 appearances against the Angels.
• Jose Altuve has scored at least one run in each of his last 11 appearances after playing the previous day.
• Jose Altuve has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances.
• Kyle Tucker ranks 10th amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.514) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Houston Astros ranks T28th in the league for triples this season (9).
• The Houston Astros ranks 5th in the league for strikeouts against this season (922).
• The Los Angeles Angels ranks 3rd in the league for home runs this season (174).
• The Los Angeles Angels ranks 28th in the league for walks allowed this season (435).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m staying with the Astros. Verlander is rolling right now, even though he’s coming off a tough-luck loss to the Yankees on two earned in 7.0 innings. In his two starts prior Verlander managed a 2-0 record with just one earned in 11.1 innings. As for Detmers, he’s 0-2 in his last three starts with 11 earned over a span of 13.2 innings. Houston should have some chances at the plate early. On Thursday the Astros got a nice bullpen performance with 2.0 shutdown innings but it wasn’t enough to dig out of the early hole. With Verlander on the mound here however, I like the Astros to bounce back and draw first blood in this series.