Houston (26-16) at LA Angels (24-16)
When: Monday, May 14th 2018
Where: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Time: 10:05 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Houston -142/7.5
We pretty much knew after the first few weeks of the season, that the Los Angeles Angels would be a threat to the Houston Astros in the American League West, and the two teams will battle once again – this time in Anaheim – when they open a three-game series Monday night. L.A. got the better of Houston the first time around, taking two of three in Minute Maid Park. The two clubs have held the top spot in the division all season long, although neither has managed to extend its advantage over the other to more than 2.5 games. The Astros held on to their one-game lead Sunday with a 6-1 victory over Texas for their fifth win in six games, getting another solid outing from a starting pitching staff that hasn’t surrendered more than two runs in any game during the six-game stretch. The Angels are coming off a four-game series split at home with the improving Minnesota Twins, getting a walk-off RBI single from Zack Cozart in the ninth inning Sunday for a 2-1 win. Justin Upton went 0-for-4 to end a seven-game hitting streak, but still managed to extend his RBI streak to six games with an RBI ground out. Upton is tied with Cleveland OF Michael Brantley for the most RBIs in May at 17. The Astros should get a key offensive weapon back on Monday, as George Springer (elbow) is scheduled to play after a two-game abscence. Houston second baseman Jose Altuve went 0-for-13 in the Rangers series, marking the first time he has been held hitless in three straight games since last September.
Pitchers: Astros – Lance McCullers Jr. (5-1, 3.72 ERA) | Angels – Andrew Heaney (1-2, 4.78)
Lance McCullers, like the rest of the Houston staff, is on a roll right now. He won his fourth straight decision Tuesday at Oakland despite walking four batters, but limited the damage by allowing just two runs on five hits in five innings. It broke a streak of five-straight quality starts for McCullers, but he did improve to 4-0 in five road starts despite a 4.67 ERA. He is 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA in nine starts against Los Angeles.
Andrew Heaney will oppose McCullers and is coming off his third straight outing of allowing two or fewer runs Tuesday at Colorado. Heaney was hit hard by San Francisco on April 20th, but is 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA in his three starts since. Heaney has not served-up a homer in four of his five outings as he faces the Astros for the first time since tossing five scoreless innings in a no-decision in 2015.
This is a highly anticipated series for Angels fans, but so was the series two weeks ago with the Yankees, and Anaheim laid an egg in all three games. The Angels offense was on fire last week, but was cooled-off by Minnesota pitching the last three days. McCullers has been terrific in his career against Anaheim and the Houston offense will be too much for Heaney.
Pick: Astros -130
BETTING TRENDS:
- Astros are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Astros are 10-2 in their last 12 road games.
- Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 overall.
- Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 games on grass.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 6-2 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 20-7 in their last 27 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Astros are 24-9 in their last 33 vs. American League West.
- Astros are 16-6 in their last 22 Monday games.
- Astros are 15-6 in their last 21 during game 1 of a series.
- Astros are 35-16 in their last 51 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 63-30 in their last 93 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 35-17 in their last 52 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Astros are 39-19 in their last 58 games following a win.
- Astros are 4-0 in McCuller’s last 4 starts vs. American League West.
- Astros are 5-1 in McCuller’s last 6 road starts.
- Astros are 4-1 in McCuller’s last 5 starts.
- Astros are 4-1 in McCuller’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Astros are 10-3 in McCuller’s last 13 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 13-5 in McCuller’s last 18 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 5-2 in McCuller’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 0-4 in McCuller’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Angels are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Angels are 12-3 in their last 15 vs. American League West.
- Angels are 22-7 in their last 29 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Angels are 6-2 in their last 8 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Angels are 5-2 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Angels are 5-2 in their last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Angels are 5-2 in their last 7 home games.
- Angels are 7-3 in their last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Angels are 5-16 in their last 21 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Angels are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Angels are 3-7 in Heaney’s last 10 home starts.
- Angels are 3-9 in Heaney’s last 12 starts.
- Angels are 3-9 in Heaney’s last 12 starts on grass.
- Angels are 2-6 in Heaney’s last 8 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Angels are 1-4 in Heaney’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Angels are 1-4 in Heaney’s last 5 starts vs. American League West.
- Angels are 1-5 in Heaney’s last 6 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Angels are 1-6 in Heaney’s last 7 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Angels are 1-7 in Heaney’s last 8 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Angels are 0-5 in Heaney’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Angels are 0-4 in Heaney’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Angels are 0-6 in Heaney’s last 6 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Angels are 0-5 in Heaney’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Astros last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Astros last 4 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Astros last 5 on grass.
- Under is 5-0 in Astros last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 7-0 in Astros last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 7-0 in Astros last 7 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Astros last 5 vs. American League West.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Astros last 7 road games.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Astros last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Astros last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
- Under is 24-8-1 in Astros last 33 Monday games.
- Under is 21-8-1 in Astros last 30 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 20-8-3 in Astros last 31 games following a win.
- Under is 3-0-1 in McCuller’s last 4 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 3-0-1 in McCuller’s last 4 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1-2 in McCuller’s last 8 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in McCuller’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2-1 in McCuller’s last 9 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Under is 17-6 in McCuller’s last 23 starts vs. American League West.
- Under is 8-3 in McCuller’s last 11 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 12-5-2 in McCuller’s last 19 starts overall.
- Over is 11-5-2 in McCuller’s last 18 starts on grass.
- Under is 4-0 in Angels last 4 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Angels last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 5-1 in Angels last 6 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 4-1 in Angels last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 20-7-1 in Angels last 28 Monday games.
- Over is 5-2 in Angels last 7 games following a win.
- Under is 7-3 in Angels last 10 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 13-6-1 in Angels last 20 vs. American League West.
- Under is 5-0-1 in Heaney’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-0 in Heaney’s last 4 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Heaney’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-2 in Heaney’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 6-1 in McCuller’s last 7 starts vs. Angels.
- Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
- Astros are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Los Angeles.
