The Houston Astros venture away from the comforts of Minute Maid Park for the first time in the 2020 MLB betting season. If Tuesday night’s series opener against the Dodgers let MLB bettors know anything, it’s that it’s head hunting season and the Astros are the hunted. You have to wonder though if Joe Kelly’s eight-game suspension will scare teams away from playing bean ball moving forward with this being a shortened season. One team that can ill afford to go to the pen early is the Los Angeles Angels, but that still might not sway them from playing a little beanball considering the Astros took all but five of the 19 overall meetings a season ago. Hopefully the starters stick around because a fantastic pitching matchup awaits with Zack Greinke opposing Griffin Canning in the middle of this three-game set.
First pitch for the game between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels is scheduled for Saturday, August 1, 2020, at 7:07 p.m. ET from Angel Stadium. The matchup will be shown live on FOX. You can bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
MLB Betting Odds
Odds Analysis
The Halos have been installed underdogs by linemakers each of the last 15 times the Astros paid a visit to the Big A. That will likely be the case once again in this one with the veteran Greinke set to square off against second-year starter Canning. LA hosted this rivalry 10 times last season and cashed in as underdogs only three times; the over cashed in five times. Though the Astros have gotten out to a rough start, Dusty Baker’s squad still checks in as the -106 chalk to win the AL West; the Angels clock in at +500.
Probable Pitchers
Though Greinke has dominated Seattle throughout his time in Houston, that wasn’t the case in his 2020 debut on Sunday when the Mariners roughed him up for 4 hits and 3 ER through 3.1 total innings of work. He was taken off the hook later in the game when the offense rallied to take the lead. Lifetime against the Angels, Greinke stands 6-5 with a 4.03 ERA and .370 BAA through 14 overall starts and 91.2 innings. The righty was however lights out on the road last season in going 10-4 with a 2.64 ERA and 0.93 WHIP; he’s 6-3 in 11 made Anaheim starts.
Although he ended up taking the loss versus the A’s in his season opening start, Canning’s stuff looked pretty electric. He ended up conceding 4 hits (1 HR) and 3 ER through 4.2 innings, but also racked up 7 K. an inflated pitch count forced Joe Maddon to yank him early. This will be his first-ever start against Houston who teed off on him in his lone relief appearance against them last season. He was done in by six walks in just 1.1 innings, so you can be sure he will make it a point to have better control of his pitches this time around.
Bullpens
The Angels might currently own the league’s No. 6 ranked bullpen, but don’t for one second believe it’s nearly as good as that ranking. The unit just allowed seven earned runs to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday, and weaved in and out of trouble in Oakland against an A’s offense yet to hit its stride. As for the Astros, their bullpen is in shambles right now with the injury bug simply just destroying the unit. It’s so bad that Roberto Osuna is the only player with major league experience under his belt. Once both Greinke and Canning depart, you can be sure to see some runs hit the board in this game. Live bet accordingly and entertain the thought of making a 2H wager on the over as well.
MLB Pick
While Greinke has dominated the Angels throughout his stay in Houston, LA is a much different team now than the one from a short season ago. The batting order is much better with Anthony Rendon nestled in between Mike Trout and Justin Upton. David Fletcher is thriving in the lead-off spot while Brian Goodwin continues to turn the bottom of the order over effectively. I really came away impressed with Canning’s stuff earlier in the week, and I foresee him thriving in this spot. The time to pick on the Astros is now when they’re not 100 percent, and that’s exactly what I’ll do in hopes of taking a nice underdog price back with the Halos.
MLB Odds: Angels 6, Astros 3
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