Houston (86-57) at LA Angels (73-70)
When: Tuesday, September 12th 2017
Where: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Time: 10:05 ET | TV: SportsNet Southwest, FSN West
Opening Odds: Houston -120/8.5
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The were embarrassed over the weekend and will look to get back on track when they open a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. The Astros began a 10-game road trip with a three-game sweep in Seattle, but then were humiliated by the worst team in their division over the weekend. Justin Verlander and Cameron Maybin, both of whom were acquired on August 31st, helped Houston sweep Seattle last week and get to a seven-game winning streak, but the team ran into a hot-hitting Athletics team that outscored the AL West leaders 41-15 during a four-game sweep. The slide was enough for the Astros (86-57) to lose their grip on the best record in the AL to red-hot Cleveland, although their lead over the Angels is still at 13 games with 19 remaining. Los Angeles closed to within one game of the second and final wild-card spot in the AL with Sunday’s 5-3 win against the Mariners, snapping a three-game skid. Verlander will face former Detroit teammate Justin Upton, who delivered a tiebreaking two-run double Sunday and is batting .294 with five RBIs in nine games with the Angels. DH Albert Pujols needs one more homer to break his tie with Jim Thome (612) for sole possession of seventh place on the all-time list.
Pitchers: Astros – Justin Verlander (11-8, 3.74 ERA) | Angels – Garrett Richards (0-0, 1.13)
Verlander was victorious in his Astros debut last Tuesday, striking out seven and allowing just one run on a solo homer in six innings of work at Seattle. Verlander has been sensational since the All-Star Break, going 6-2 with a 2.33 ERA while allowing two earned runs or fewer in nine of those 11 outings. Mike Trout is 2-for-16 with a pair of solo home runs against Verlander, who was ripped for four runs across six innings in a road loss to the Angels on May 14th.
Richards made his first start in exactly five months last Tuesday, settling for a no-decision in Oakland after giving up one run on four hits in 3.1 innings. Richards, who spent most of the season recovering from a biceps strain, tossed two scoreless innings in his only one rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake before his promotion. Richards is 5-3 with a 3.73 ERA in 12 career appearances (nine starts) against the Astros but hasn’t faced Houston in a couple of years.
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L.A.’s bullpen has been pretty good this season and they’ll need to help out Richards, who is slowly increasing his pitch-count. The Angels have been playing better baseball over the last month than Houston, so I’ll take them in the opener.
Pick: Angels +120
BETTING TRENDS:
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 12-5 in their last 17 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a loss.
- Astros are 1-4 in their last 5 games following an off day.
- Astros are 0-4 in their last 4 road games.
- Astros are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. American League West.
- Astros are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 0-4 in their last 4 overall.
- Astros are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Astros are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Astros are 0-4 in their last 4 games on grass.
- Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
- Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Angels are 18-5 in their last 23 Tuesday games.
- Angels are 19-7 in their last 26 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Angels are 3-7 in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Angels are 2-6 in their last 8 during game 1 of a series.
- Angels are 1-5 in their last 6 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Angels are 0-4 in their last 4 games following an off day.
- Angels are 4-0 in Richards’ last 4 starts.
- Angels are 4-0 in Richards’ last 4 starts on grass.
- Angels are 5-0 in Richards’ last 5 Tuesday starts.
- Angels are 14-5 in Richards’ last 19 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Angels are 5-2 in Richards’ last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Angels are 30-14 in Richards’ last 44 home starts.
- Angels are 4-9 in Richards’ last 13 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 overall.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 road games.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 on grass.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 vs. American League West.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-0 in Astros last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 9-1 in Astros last 10 games following an off day.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Astros last 6 games following a loss.
- Under is 6-2 in Astros last 8 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 16-6 in Astros last 22 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 10-4-2 in Astros last 16 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 7-3-1 in Astros last 11 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Angels last 6 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 7-1 in Angels last 8 games following a win.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Angels last 7 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Angels last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-1 in Angels last 5 home games.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Angels last 9 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 8-3 in Angels last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 7-3-1 in Angels last 11 overall.
- Over is 7-3-1 in Angels last 11 on grass.
- Over is 7-3-1 in Angels last 11 vs. American League West.
- Over is 5-0 in Richards’ last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 10-1-1 in Richards’ last 12 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 6-1 in Richards’ last 7 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1 in Richards’ last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Richards’ last 6 Tuesday starts.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Richards’ last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Richards’ last 5 home starts.
- Over is 9-3 in Richards’ last 12 starts vs. American League West.
- Over is 7-3-1 in Richards’ last 11 starts on grass.
- Over is 7-3-1 in Richards’ last 11 starts overall.
- Under is 5-1 in Richards’ last 6 starts vs. Astros.
- Angels are 4-1 in Richards’ last 5 home starts vs. Astros.
- Astros are 10-4 in the last 14 meetings in Los Angeles.
- Astros are 21-10 in the last 31 meetings.
