Angels vs Astros Showdown: How to Watch, Odds, Predictions and More

May 21, 2024

May 20, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) throws a fielded ball to first base to complete a double play against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports / Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

Monday, in their first game this season against the division-rival Houston Astros, the Angels became the first team in major league history to get a home run from a 22-year-old (Nolan Schanuel), 23-year-old (Zach Neto), 24-year-old (Logan O’Hoppe) and 25-year-old (Jo Adell) in the same game. Every run counted in the 9-7 win, in which the Angels came back from an early 6-1 deficit.

Tuesday's contest marks the second game this season between the longstanding division rivals.

How to Watch

- Bally Sports West 

- ESPN+ for MLB Game of the Day 

- 830-AM (KLAA)

Odds

- Houston Astros: -210

- LA Angels: +190

- Over/Under: 8.5 

Click here for detailed betting odds.

Predictions

Expectations are high for a pitcher's duel, with both starters coming off strong performances. Tuesday's pitching matchup features Griffin Canning for the Angels and Cristian Javier for the Astros. Canning is coming off an outstanding six-inning performance against the St. Louis Cardinals in his last start. Over his last three, Canning has thrown 17.2 innings while allowing just three runs, lowering his ERA for the season to 5.21.

Javier’s impressive display in his recent start suggests the Angels' bats might be kept quiet. The right-hander struck out a season-high eight batters and allowed just two hits and one walk through 6 scoreless innings in his most recent start against the Oakland A's last Thursday.

The key will be whether the Angels can continue to outperform trends as road underdogs, or if the Astros can assert their dominance at home following a loss.

More

Kevin Pillar is batting .442 (19/43) with six extra-base hits and 16 RBIs through his first 13 games with the Angels. The 16 RBIs are third-most in Angels history through a player’s first 13 games with the team (Joe Rudi had 19 RBIs in 1977 and J.T. Snow had 17 RBIs in 1993). Sunday at Texas, Pillar recorded the 1,000th hit of his career and scored the 500th run of his career.

Kyle Tucker’s bat remains hot for the Astros. Tucker leads the AL in OPS (1.039), SLG (.618), and OBP (.421), while ranking tied for first in walks (39), and second in homers (15) and extra-base hits (26). Tucker recorded his sixth career multi-homer game on Sunday and his third of the season, which came within the team’s first 47 games. According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, that’s the fewest team
games to reach three multi-homer games by a player in Astros franchise history.