We have the divisional rivalry game in the MLB on Monday, April 18 as two American League West foes meet at Minute Maid Park in Houston, so make sure to check out the best Angels vs. Astros betting pick along with the latest odds update on BetUS Sportsbook.

These AL West rivals have already met in a four-game series in Los Angeles to open the season, and Houston won that series 3-1. The Astros are -162 favorites in this one, while the total is set at 9.5 runs.

Angels won the series against the Rangers

The Los Angeles Angels bounced back from a series loss to the Houston Astros and beat the Miami Marlins and Texas Rangers in the next two. After losing the opening game of the series against Texas, the Angles responded with three straight wins and now have five victories in the previous six games to top the AL West with a 6-4 record.

Los Angeles scored eight runs on ten hits in an 8-3 victory, while the bullpen kept the Rangers at bay after starter Jose Suarez’s not very convincing 4.1 innings. He allowed three runs on five hits with three Ks and three walks. Despite pitching for just 0.2 innings, reliever Mike Mayers was credited with a win, his first of the season.

Over the first ten games of a new season, the Angels scored 41 runs (9th in the MLB) on a .250/.314/.457 triple-slash. When it comes to pitching, Los Angeles’ staff has a 4.61 ERA (23rd) and 1.18 WHIP (8th).

Astros disappointed in Seattle

The Houston Astros played each of their opening three series on the road and now will spend the next six games at home against the Angeles and Blue Jays. Houston didn’t play well in two of three duels against the Seattle Mariners, allowing even 18 runs and scoring only three in return in those two meetings.

Jose Urquidy struggled in his second start of the campaign after a strong outing against the Angels last week. The 26-year-old righty allowed six runs on eight hits with two Ks and one walk over 4.0 innings of work. Houston batters registered just four hits in total; Michael Brantley had two of them, including a two-run homer in the 6th – his first HR of the season. Still, the Astros deservedly lost 7-2.

The Astros are 23rd in the MLB in scored runs with 29 on a .214/.282/.380 slash line, while Houston’s pitchers have a 2.69 ERA (6th) and 1.21 WHIP (13th).

Trends:

Los Angeles:

  • 2-7 in the last nine games against Houston
  • 1-4 in the last five games when playing on the road against Houston
  • 2-8 in the last ten during Game 1 of a series

Houston:

  • 7-3 in the last ten games at home
  • 20-6 in the last 26 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5
  • 6-2 in the last eight vs. American League West rivals

Los Angeles Angels vs. Houston Astros Pick

The Astros will be playing at home for the first time this season and will be highly motivated to give their fans something to cheer for after a weak performance in the previous series against Seattle. Also, the Angels will be without Mike Trout in this one. Trout was hit on the hand by Spencer Patton during Sunday’s battle against the Rangers and will likely miss Monday’s game.

Luis Garcia (4.0 IP/0.00 ERA) will start for the hosts and I am backing him to have another strong display. The 25-year-old righty faced the Angels six times in 2021 (W 1 L2), pitching for 26.1 innings with a 4.10 ERA. Houston batters are facing Michael Lorenzen, who got a W against the Marlins after pitching for 6.0 innings and a 1.50 ERA. Still, the Astros’ lineup is way better than Miami’s and Lorenzen will have a much harder job at Minute Maid Park.

Pick: Take the Astros to win at -162

The Total

Although I expect the Astros to improve offensively following a poor series against the Mariners, I don’t expect them to suddenly erupt and score double-digit runs here. The Angels, who have a better offense at the moment, will be without Trout, which will probably make them a bit less dangerous at-bat, while both Lorenzen and Garcia are decent pitchers, so I don’t see a lot of runs in the opening five innings.

The total has gone Under in five of Houston’s last seven games, while the total went Under in four of the Astros’ previous five games against the LA Angels. Additionally, Under is 4-1 in the Angels’ last five during Game 1 of a series.

Pick: Go with Under 9.5 runs at -125