Angels vs Astros Picks and Prediction – 4/13/2025

The Los Angeles Angels (8-5) take on the Houston Astros (6-7) in a Saturday afternoon matchup at Daikin Park, with first pitch scheduled for 12:10 PM ET. The Astros are coming off a dominant 14-3 win over the Angels, while the Angels had previously crushed Tampa Bay 11-1. Kyle Hendricks (0-0, 1.64 ERA) will take the mound for Los Angeles against Hayden Wesneski (0-1, 3.75 ERA) for Houston in what should be a solid pitching battle. Elevate your MLB game with our top-notch MLB picks.

The Angels have looked sharp overall, especially on the road with a 6-4 record, but got absolutely rocked yesterday by Houston in a 14-3 loss where the pitching collapsed. Before that, the lineup showed life with 11 runs against Tampa Bay and solid wins in that series. Mike Trout continues to be the power source with 6 home runs and 12 RBIs, even though he's batting just .208. Logan O'Hoppe has been the most consistent hitter with a .326 average and a .698 slugging percentage.

Defensively, Los Angeles needs a reset after allowing 14 runs on Friday, raising its team ERA to 4.97 with a 1.43 WHIP. Hendricks has been solid in limited work, tossing 11 innings with a 1.64 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. However, the bullpen has struggled, and they are missing several key arms, including Ben Joyce, Sam Bachman, and Robert Stephenson. The Angels’ opponents are hitting .253 against them.

The Astros rebounded in a big way Friday, exploding for 14 runs with Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez both making their presence known. Houston’s lineup hasn’t been consistently strong this season, averaging a .227 team batting average, but Altuve is hot right now, hitting .339 with 3 homers. 

Houston’s pitching has quietly been the best part of the roster. The Astros carry a team ERA of 3.72, a stellar 1.06 WHIP, and they’ve punched out 140 batters while holding opponents to a .182 average—elite numbers. Wesneski has only allowed 5 hits in 12 innings and owns a minuscule 0.67 WHIP. Houston’s bullpen is also healthier, though they’re still missing names like Forrest Whitley and Glenn Otto.

Houston has the better bullpen, the sharper starter right now, and the more consistent defense. Wesneski’s 0.67 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 12 innings give the Astros a legit edge, especially against a lineup that just got held to 3 runs on 4 hits. The Angels' 4.97 ERA and missing relievers put them at a disadvantage, and Houston’s bats are showing signs of life. Final Score Prediction: Houston Astros win 6-4.