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The Los Angeles Angels make their first visit of the season to AL West rival Houston as the teams open up a series on ESPN Monday night – the lone national TV game on the six-game MLB schedule. The Astros are favored on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Angels at Astros MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Monday, 8 PM ET
Where: Minute Maid Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): Alex Cobb/Luis Garcia
TV: ESPN
Stream/gameday audio: ESPN app

Season Series

The teams split two games in Anaheim on April 5-6. The Angels won the first 7-6. Down 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth, the Halos scores four runs on three singles, a sacrifice fly and a Houston error. The extra run came in handy when Kyle Tucker homered in the ninth off Mike Mayers. Houston won the second game 4-2. Carlos Correa hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the ninth inning. Yordan Álvarez singled in the ninth off new Angels closer Raisel Iglesias. Correa then crushed an 0-2 fastball off the low video board above the right field wall.

Why Bet on Houston? | NBA Betting Odds

Houston comes off winning two of three at home against Toronto, taking the finale 7-4 on Sunday. Kyle Tucker hit a three-run homer and tied a career high with four RBIs. Yordan Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a run scored. He stayed hot with his sixth multi-hit performance in eight games this month.

The Astros are one of four teams in the AL with five players with five-or-more homers (also, LAA, OAK, TEX). Houston’s five: DH Alvarez, 3B Alex Bregman, SS Carlos Correa, 1B Yuli Gurriel and Tucker. Jose Altuve is the only qualified second baseman in the AL without an error this season (84 total chances).

Ryan Pressly fired a perfect ninth inning on Sunday, slamming the door on the Blue Jays to collect his sixth save of the season. Pressly was summoned to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning and required only 13 pitches (eight strikes) to retire the side in order. The 32-year-old righty owns a 1.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 17/3 K/BB ratio over 15 innings this season.

It’s right-hander Luis Garcia (0-3, 3.28) on the bump. Garcia is making his third consecutive start after bouncing between a starter role and the bullpen the first four games. Garcia allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings last Wednesday in a no-decision against the Yankees. Garcia gave up a two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton in the third, which is why he was pulled with Stanton coming up again with two on in the fifth. Stanton doubled anyway, adding a third run to Garcia’s total. He allowed just two hits, and he struck out eight before departing.

Garcia is 0-2 with 3.86 ERA as starter, allowing two runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Angels on April 5. He’s seeking his first MLB win.

Why Bet on LA Angels? | NBA Betting Odds

The Halos made big news this week by releasing future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, although the three-time NL MVP had asked for it if he was going to see his playing time cut – and he was. The 42-year-old was in the final year of a 10-year, $240 million contract.

Pujols ranks fifth in career home runs (667), second in RBIs since they became an official stat in 1920 (2,112) and 14th in hits (3,253). He has won three NL MVP Awards, two Gold Gloves and six Silver Sluggers and has been invited to 10 All-Star Games. However, he was batting just .198 this year.

Perry Minasian, in his first year as the Angels’ GM, said the decision was dictated strictly by the baseball-operations department. Jared Walsh, a 39th-round pick, has continued his evolution as a highly productive hitter and was providing more dynamic defense at first base. The Halos use Shohei Ohtani at DH most games. Pujols, with an OPS 80 points below the league average in his age-41 season, had no place to play.

Some team will pick Pujols up but it apparently won’t be the White Sox, who are managed by Pujols’ former long-time manager in St. Louis Tony La Russa. Pujols and La Russa have stayed close over the years, with the manager even joining the Angels last season as an adviser before accepting the White Sox managerial job late last year.

“We have Jose (Abreu) and Yermin (Mercedes) and even if Yermin gets less hot, it’s a good way to DH other guys, get them off their feet,” La Russa said Friday. “There is no fit here, unfortunately.”

Meanwhile, AL MVP favorite Mike Trout has reached base safely in 28 of his 30 games played to start 2021. He returned to the Angels lineup last Monday after missing three games with a left elbow contusion. In 12 games since his return, he’s batting .380 with two homers and six RBIs.

Los Angeles has not announced a starting pitcher for this game and will likely go with an opener/bullpen-type game. It was to be the turn of Alex Cobb (1-2, 5.48) on the mound but he was recently placed on the 10-day injured list with a right middle finger blister. Cobb’s placement is retroactive to May 5. The right-hander struggled with five walks last Tuesday against the Rays, and it’s possible that the blister played a part in it.

It could be left Jose Suarez getting the call initially for L.A. The Angels recalled Suarez from Triple-A Salt Lake ahead of Sunday’s game against the Dodgers. Suarez has made 17 career starts with the Angels, including two last year.