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The Houston Astros (7-10) will look to snap out of their funk when they host the Los Angeles Angels (9-7) in the opener of their three-game set on Friday night. Houston has dropped three straight and is sitting in last place in the AL West, four games behind division-leading Oakland. The Angels have alternated wins and losses over their last five and will look to get back in the win column after suffering a humbling loss the last time out.

With both rivals looking to pick up a momentum-boosting win, let’s find out where the best MLB betting value lies in this affair so you can bet against their MLB odds.

MLB Betting Preview – Angels Vs Astros

LA Angels (9-7) at Houston Astros (7-10) Match Info

When: Friday, April 23, 2021, at 8:10 PM ET
Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
TV: TV: Bally Sports West, ATT SportsNet-SW+
MLB Odds: LA Angels +125 / Houston Astros -145

Starting Pitchers

LA Angels – Andrew Heaney – LHP – (1-1, 5.65 ERA, 19 SO)
Zack Greinke – RHP – (2-1, 2.81 ERA, 16 SO)

LA Angels Hand the Ball to Heaney

Los Angeles has dropped four of six and comes into this affair fresh off a 7-4 home loss against Texas. Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Justin Upton and José Iglesias hit solo homers for the Angels, but it wasn’t enough to get the win. José Quintana pitched five innings of two-hit ball with eight strikeouts.

“Overall, I thought it was a pretty good day,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “I thought we had good at-bats against a pretty good staff.”

For Friday’s opener, the Halos will hand the ball to left-hander Andrew Heaney. The 29-year-old southpaw is coming off a solid start against the Twins, giving up two runs over 5.1 innings with six strikeouts.

The Angels are averaging a healthy 5.35 runs per game (3rd) while batting a collective .266 (2nd). Defensively, Los Angeles allows 5.22 runs per game (30th) with their opponents batting .237 (15th).

Houston Astros Turn to Greinke

The Astros have dropped three straight and a whopping nine of 10 including a 6-3 road loss against Colorado on Wednesday. Yuli Gurriel had a two-run homer and drove in all three runs while starter José Urquidy gave up four runs and six hits in five innings.

“Urquidy kept us in the ballgame,” manager Dusty Baker said. “In the bullpen, he was spot on. He threw everything where he wanted. I don’t know if the mound’s any different or the conditions or if he was just feeling a little anxious. I’ve never seen Urquidy throw a ball consistently high like that. He’s usually down in the zone, he’s usually around the plate.”

On Friday, the Astros will hand the ball to right-hander Zack Greinke. The former Cy Young winner has three quality outings in four starts with 1.01 WHIP. The veteran tossed eight scoreless innings against Seattle on Saturday.

Houston averages 4.68 runs per game (13th) while batting a collective .243 (11th). Defensively, the Astros allow 4.68 runs per game (13th) with their opponents hitting .243 (11th).

Expert Analysis and Prediction

The Angels had won seven straight against the Astros until falling 4-2 at home the last time they met on April 6. Los Angeles has gone 6-2 in their last 8 road games against a right-handed starter and 14-6 in their last 20 games against a right-handed starter.

Still, Houston has gone 37-18 in their last 55 home dates against the Halos and I believe the Astros are the pick on Friday with Zack Greinke looking phenomenal so far this season. I like the ‘Stros to get it done in order to snap out of the ugly funk they’ve been in after their red-hot start.

Pick: Houston 5 LA Angels 3

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