Angels vs Astros Prediction - MLB Picks 8/12/23

Houston Astros (67-50) vs Los Angeles Angels (58-59)

Game Info: Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 7:15 pm (Minute Maid Park)

J.P. France (8-3) (2.75) vs Tyler Anderson (5-3) (4.92)

Betting Odds: Houston Astros -170 / Los Angeles Angels +156 --- Over/Under: 9 Click Here for the Latest Odds

The Houston Astros will host the Los Angeles Angels for game two of their divisional series this Friday from Minute Maid Park. Houston took game one in crushing fashion, 11-3.

Angels Preview & Projected Starter

Los Angeles moved to 58-59 after losing Houston. The Angels were simply overmatched last night, and they’ll look to avoid beginning another skid here in game two. The LAA offense is scoring 4.16 runs per game, while batting .257, with a .333 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.43 ERA, with a 1.36 WHIP.

Tyler Anderson (5-3, 4.92 ERA, 86 Ks) will take the mound for Los Angeles. The eighth-year lefty pitched well against Seattle last week, striking out six through five innings, while allowing just two runs. Anderson earned the loss, but it was his second straight quality start, and he’ll face an uphill battle if he’d like to keep things going. Anderson struck out five in three innings during his last matchup with Houston, and he’ll look to go deeper into the game this go round.

Angels Player Trends & Props

Shohei Ohtani has recorded a hit in nine straight games, and he’s first in the AL in home runs (40), while leading LAA in hits (126) and RBI (82), while batting .310.

Brandon Drury plated runs in both wins over San Fran, and he’s posting splits of .277/15/48.

Mike Moustakas powered the game three victory with a three-run shot, and after recording multiple hits in five of the previous seven games, Moose is posting splits of .278/10/37.

Hunter Renfroe produced a pair of runs in the game two win, and he’s posting a line of .249/17/51.

Astros Preview & Projected Starter

Houston enters at 66-49 after defeating Los Angeles. The Astros came out pumped for Justin Verlander’s return, and they’ll look to carry that momentum into Saturday. Houston offense is scoring 4.76 runs per game, while batting .248, with a .317 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 3.81 ERA, with a 1.27 WHIP.

J.P. France (8-3, 2.75 ERA, 55 Ks) will take the hill for Houston. The rookie rightY had a short start versus the Yankees last week, striking out four in 3.1 innings, but it was enough to earn his fourth straight victory. France has returned from the break in style, and after pitching three straight seven-inning quality starts, last week’s spot in the Bronx may have been cautionary, and he’ll look to back here against the Halos. France will also be looking to avenge a tough outing in Anaheim that only saw him last 4.1 innings as well.

Astros Player Trends & Props

Kyle Tucker homered in both wins in Baltimore, and he leads the Astros in hits (123), with strong splits of .296/21/84.

Alex Bregman collected a hit in all three matchups with the O’s, and he’s posting a line of .251/18/72.

Yordan Alvarez has recorded a hit in eight of the last ten games, and he’s tied with Tucker for the team-lead in homers at 21, while batting .283, with 62 RBI.

Jose Altuve went off in the game three loss, homering and collecting a season-four hits, and he brings a 12-game hit streak into this series, and he’s batting .305.

Jeremy Peña plated runs in both victories over the Orioles, and he’s batting .241, with 41 runs batted in.

Corey’s Free Pick

Houston came through in a big way yesterday, and there’s honestly no reason to sway away with a hot J.P. France set to take the mound. France has come along over the course of the season, and while the Halos will present a respectable test, he’s got it going right now, and can be leaned on at home with the bats behind him. The Angels are what they are at this point, and it’s hard to trust them in this road spot with the way things have unfolded this month. Let’s back Houston again here, and give the Over a look with the depth within both lineups capable of production.