Prediction and Best Bets for Astros vs Angels (May 9)

Things aren’t going very well at the moment for the Houston Astros, and they might not get any better tonight, as they are set to face Shohei Ohtani on the mound in tonight’s matchup with the Los Angeles Angels.

The Astros (17-18, 9-7 away) have lost five of their last six games, and they fell 6-4 in yesterday’s series opener at Angel Stadium.

Will Houston get the win tonight to move to .500? Or will the Halos wrap up their fourth home series win of the season and set up an opportunity to break out the brooms tomorrow afternoon? Read on for our Astros vs Angels prediction and best bets for today.

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Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Odds

Odds are via FanDuel as of Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 7:15 pm ET.

Moneyline

• Houston Astros +120
• Los Angeles Angels -142

Over/Under

• Over 7.5 (-115)
• Under 7.5 (-105)

Run Line

• Houston Astros +1.5 (-176)
• Los Angeles Angels -1.5 (+146)

Pitching Matchup for Astros vs Angels

• Houston Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (2-4, 2.60 ERA)
• Los Angeles Angels: RHP Shohei Ohtani (4-0, 2.54 ERA)

Will Lack of Run Support Hurt Valdez Again?

Valdez currently has the sixth-best odds to win the AL Cy Young Award, but those odds would likely be a bit better if he had fewer than four losses to his name already.

He took his fourth loss of the season last time out against the San Francisco Giants, despite allowing three or fewer runs for the sixth time in seven starts. He held the Giants scoreless until the sixth inning and allowed two runs, five hits, and two walks in six inning, but the Astros didn’t make a dent on the scoreboard until the eighth inning in a 4-2 loss.

Yet again, he was done in by a lack of run support. Houston has scored three or fewer runs in five of his seven starts this season, and they have lost all five of those games.

Could they be catching Ohtani at the right time? After allowing just two runs, eight hits, and no homers in his first five starts this season, Ohtani has allowed nine runs, eight hits, and four homers in his last two starts, against the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals.

However, the Angels have won both games, and they are 6-1 in his seven starts this season. Dating back to last season, the Halos are 6-0 in his last six home starts and 12-2 in his last 14 starts overall.

Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction for Astros vs Angels: Angels to win

Best Bets for Astros vs Angels: Angels ML (Best Value: Caesars Sportsbook & BetMGM) & Astros/Angels under 7.5 (Best Value: BetMGM)

There aren’t a lot of runs to play with here, but I don’t expect to see many runs on the board tonight at Angel Stadium. Unfortunately for Valdez, I expect to see fewer runs for the Astros than I do the Angels.

While Valdez might come out on the short end on the scoreboard, I do like the value for him to go over 5.5 strikeouts tonight. He has recorded six or more strikeouts in nine of his last 12 starts against the Angels, including three of his four starts against them last season. If he pitches six or more innings, which he has done in his six of his seven starts this season, the over should cash.

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