Angels at Astros 8/30/18 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Los Angeles Angels head to the Lone Star State on Thursday to open a four-game series against American League West rivals the Houston Astros. The Angels lost to the Colorado Rockies Tuesday 3-2. David Fletcher had three hits and an RBI for the Angels in the loss, while Albert Pujols drove in the other Angels run with a sacrifice fly. Los Angeles is 1-9 over its last 10 games played.

Houston’s six-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday in a 4-3 loss to the Oakland A’s. The loss narrowed Houston’s lead in the AL West to just 1 ½ games over the A’s. Alex Bregman knocked in two of Houston’s three runs with a two-out double in the fifth. Mike Trout leads the Angels with a .311 batting average and in home runs with 31. Andrelton Simmons is the team leader in hits with 133. Justin Upton leads the team in RBIs with 74. Los Angeles has a team batting average of .247 while opposing hitters are averaging .249 at the plate against Angels pitching. On Thursday, the Angels will send Andrew Heaney to the mound. The lefthander this season is 7-8 with an ERA of 4.25, 138 Ks and 38 BBs.

Jose Altuve leads Houston with a .329 batting average. Alex Bregman leads the Astros in home runs with 25, RBIs with 75, and hits with 144. Houston has a team batting average of .257 while opposing hitters are averaging .216 at the plate against Astros pitching. On Thursday, the Astros will send Justin Verlander to the mound. The right-hander this season is 13-8 with an ERA of 2.72, 229 Ks and 31 BBs.