Astros offense to ignite in Divisional Showdown with Angels

• When: Friday, August 11 at 8:10 PM ET
• Who: Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros
• Starting Pitchers: Reid Detmers and Justin Verlander
• Where: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

If you're hunting for value in the MLB betting market, look no further, folks. Fresh from a potential sweep of the Orioles, the Houston Astros, currently sitting just two games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West, are gearing up to square off against the Los Angeles Angels in a three-game series that's shaping up to be a real humdinger.

Before continuing, please check out our MLB Betting Guide, which will help you prepare for any MLB props you may be interested in.

Game Preview

The Astros are on a roll, having won five of their last seven games since snapping up Justin Verlander at the trade deadline. Verlander, a seasoned campaigner with a cannon for an arm, has been a revelation for the Astros, providing them with the much-needed impetus to take their game to the next level.

On the mound for the Astros will be Justin Verlander; after trading for him, the Astros are hoping he could be the game-changer they need. Although Verlander is 40, he has yet to lose a step. He's got 81 strikeouts and a 3.15 ERA this year.

Houston Astros To win game

-186

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Heading into this matchup, the Astros are -186 favorites on the money line at BetOnline. The implied probability of those odds is 65%. But let's not discount the Angels.

What a day in Houston! On the same day the Astros acquire Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez throws a complete game no-hitter.

The last Astro to throw a complete game no-hitter: Justin Verlander pic.twitter.com/0dea8wJYcQ

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 2, 2023

The Angels will be sending Reid Detmers on the mound. Detmers has struggled to pile up wins this season, accumulating a 2-8 record. He also has a 4.78 ERA and 131 strikeouts.

On the offensive side of the ball, they've got bats that can knock it out of the park, and both teams' offensive outputs make the over 8.5 runs at -110 odds a tempting pick.

But here's where it gets juicy. The Astros have been scoring runs for fun in the late innings, piling on a combined 10 runs in the eighth and ninth innings in their last two games against the usually reliable Baltimore bullpen. We could be in for a run-fest if they can carry that momentum into this series.

If you want to back the underdog Angels, you can get them at +170 odds at Betonline. The implied probability of that is 37%.

LA Angels To win game

+170

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However, don't expect a walk in the park for the Astros. The Angels will be no pushovers and will be looking to put a dent in the Astros' march toward the top of the AL West. It will be a battle of grit, determination, and who can hold their nerve in the high-pressure moments.

Shohei Ohtani is having a season for the ages, so he could have a performance that takes over the game.

The only MLB player to have multiple seasons with 10+ wins and 10+ home runs hit? Shohei Ohtani 🦄#GoHalos x @NationalPro pic.twitter.com/ZC4AjkrFpy

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 10, 2023

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Total Runs

While the starting pitchers may deliver strong performances, I lack faith in either team's bullpen.

All said and done, the Astros, with Verlander leading the charge and Detmer finding his rhythm, this game looks like a good bet to be a high-scoring affair. But remember, in the game of baseball, anything can happen. It's a game of inches, and one swing of the bat can change the entire complexion of the game.

Over 8.5 Runs LA Angels vs Houston Astros

-110

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So buckle up, folks! It's going to be a wild ride. And while we're not in the business of making guarantees, we can promise you this: it will be one hell of a game. Get your popcorn ready!

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