Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Prediction, 4/9/2022 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels

Date: Saturday, April 9, 2022

Location: Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA

TV: Bally Sports SoCal

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-135) Los Angeles (+115)

Angel Stadium is where the Los Angeles Angels (77-85 last year) will go up against the Houston Astros (95-67 last season) on Saturday. The line on this contest has Houston at -135 while Los Angeles is priced at +115. The over/under is 7.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Justin Verlander and Noah Syndergaard.

Houston had a slugging rate of .444 and were called out on strikes 1,222 times, while taking a walk on 569 occasions. They had 834 runs batted in and 1,496 hits over the course of the prior season, while their batting average was at .267. The Astros accumulated 299 two-baggers as a unit and hit 221 balls out of the stadium. They racked up 863 runs and held an OBP of .339. As a squad, the Houston Astros put up 5.3 runs per game, which put them at 1st in the league.

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Astros pitchers surrendered 187 long balls in addition to 658 runs (7th in the league). Their pitching staff walked 549 opposing players and their FIP was 4.12 as a unit in the previous season. They accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.65 and their pitching staff had a collective WHIP of 1.23. The Astros compiled a team ERA of 3.76 in the prior season (7th in the league), and the staff struck out 1,456 batters.

Astros relief pitchers entered the contest with runners on base 137 times as well as having 166 games in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers racked up 69 holds in the previous season (25th in the league). The Astros relief pitchers accumulated a save rate of 55.7% and stepped onto the hill in 131 save situations. They tallied 34 saves during the previous year and did not convert 27 of 61 chances to save the game. The relievers inherited 202 runners for the prior year and 36.1% of those runners earned a run for their team. The Astros had sent 512 relief pitchers to the hill in the previous season.

The Houston Astros had a tally of 4,335 putouts for the prior year, as well as 1,432 assists and 71 errors. Their fielding percentage held steady at .988 which put them in 1st in pro baseball, and they twisted 126 double plays. The Astros turned 71.3% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 13,005 innings, which had them sitting 3rd in pro baseball.

Verlander has pitched in 2,988 frames and has earned 3,013 punch outs so far in his MLB career. Verlander (226-129 career record) has earned a FIP of 3.41 and he has gone up against 12,214 opposing batters during his time in the majors. His ERA is 3.33 (1,105 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.134. He has given up 2,538 base knocks (7.6 hits per nine innings) with 851 walks.

The Angels held a slugging % of .407 and they were recording 4.46 runs per contest (17th in the league). They tallied 265 doubles, while walking 464 times as well as earning 723 runs. Los Angeles recorded 190 home runs for the previous season in addition to 691 runs batted in. They were called out on strikes on 1,394 occasions (16th in MLB) and accounted for 1,331 base hits. The Los Angeles Angels compiled a team on-base percentage of .310 in addition to a team batting average of .245 over the course of the prior season.

The Los Angeles pitching staff allowed 804 runs over the course of last season while having an ERA of 4.69 (741 earned runs allowed). They surrendered 188 homers and they conceded 5.09 runs per 9 innings (22nd in the league). The Angels had a team WHIP of 1.383 and had a FIP of 4.25 as a squad in the previous season. Their strikeout to walk ratio was 2.45 (1,453 strikeouts vs 592 walks). They were ranked 21st in the league as a staff in total hits relinquished with 1,373.

Wrapping up the year with 140 save situations, the Angels tallied 73 holds and 26 blown saves. Los Angeles had relief pitchers enter the game in 65 save chances and they came away with 39 saves. Their bullpen pitchers stepped onto the mound 173 times in high leverage situations and also on 242 occasions with runners on. Los Angeles relief pitchers had an inherited score percentage of 37.0% of 365 inherited runners. They were ranked 19th in the league with a save percentage of 60.0%, and they dispatched 562 relief pitchers to the hill last season.

In 12,795 innings on the diamond, the Angels had a efficiency on defense of 68.0% (29th in pro baseball). Los Angeles Angels twisted 131 double plays and had a fielding percentage of .985 (17th in professional baseball). The Angels racked up 1,419 assists, 88 errors and earned a total of 4,265 putouts last season.

Thus far in his career, Syndergaard has surrendered 668 base hits while tallying 777 strikeouts in 718 innings. Syndergaard (47-31 mark in his career) holds a 3.32 earned run average while surrendering 8.4 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered a total of 265 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.162 and being the owner of a FIP of 2.9. He has a K/BB ratio of 4.68 and he has gone up against 2,948 opposing batters so far in his MLB career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Houston (-135)

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