Angels at Astros 9/1/18 - MLB Picks & Predictions

On Saturday, the Los Angeles Angels play the third game of a four-game series on the road against the Houston Astros. The Angels won the opening game of the series on Thursday 5-2 as Andrew Heaney tossed six shutout innings and Andrelton Simmons hit a three-run double that capped off a sixth inning in which the Angels scored four runs.

The Astros remained in first place by 2 ½ games in the American League West despite the loss as Oakland lost on Thursday as well. Justin Verlander took the loss allowing three runs on five hits while striking out 11 in just 5 1/3 innings of work. It was the third consecutive start in which Verlander has allowed three runs or more. Tyler White’s two-run home run in the ninth avoided an Astros shutout. Mike Trout leads the Angels with a .310 batting average and in home runs with 31. Andrelton Simmons is the team leader in hits with 136. Justin Upton leads the team in RBIs with 75. Los Angeles has a team batting average of .247 while opposing hitters are averaging .249 at the plate against Angels pitching. On Saturday, the Angels will send Felix Pena to the mound. The right-hander this season is 1-4 with an ERA of 4.52, 64 Ks and 25 BBs.

Jose Altuve leads Houston with a .329 batting average. Alex Bregman leads the Astros in home runs with 25, RBIs with 86, and hits with 147. Houston has a team batting average of .257 while opposing hitters are averaging .217 at the plate against Astros pitching. Houston has not yet announced a starting pitcher for Saturday’s game against the Angels.