Houston vs Los Angeles MLB Gambling Tips
Perennial slugger Albert Pujols clubbed a pair of home runs on Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays, tying for second in the major leagues, while leading the suddenly red-hot Angles to a 6-2 victory at home.
Now Pujols will aim to continue his climb up the all-time home run ladder when Los Angeles host the Houston Astros on Monday in the opener of their three-game series.
HOU: Dallas Keuchel (L) (4-2, 3.06 ERA) v LAA: Garrett Richards (R) (4-0, 2.42)
Date/Time: 10:05 pm ET Monday, May 19, 2014
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
Broadcast: Local
Line: Angels -205
Total: 7.5
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Houston (16-28) has won five of its last six following an 8-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, as Matt Dominguez hit a pair of two-run homers to give the Astros their second straight series victory of the year.
Astros’ second baseman Jose Altuve extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a leadoff single in the first and is now third in the majors with 56 hits.
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Meanwhile, the Halos have won eight of their last 10 contests, and will hope Pujols can keep up his streak.
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The three-time National League MVP has clubbed 42 career homers against the Astros, who will attempt to dash any optimism early on, by sending southpaw Dallas Keuchel to the mound.
The 26-year-old pitched his first career shutout on Tuesday against the Rangers, and has allowed fewer than three runs, five times in eight starts this season. Keuchel is 2-1 with a 6.65 ERA in four career starts against the Angels, but yielded four runs over five innings of work, losing to the Angels on April 5, in his season debut.
Anaheim (24-19) will counter with Garrett Richards, who has been exceptional this season, holding six of eight opponents to two or fewer runs after shutting out the Phillies on Wednesday.
The 25-year old right-hander is 2-0 against the Astros, and surrendered just one run in five innings to beat Houston back on April 4.
Notes:
1. Pujols is tied with Eddie Murray for 25th on the all-time home run list and trails Gary Sheffield (509) by five for the 24th spot.
2. Houston 2B Jose Altuve is third in the majors with 56 hits – 16 more than any other teammate.
3. Los Angeles 3B David Freese (fractured finger) and OF Kole Calhoun (ankle) are both close to returning to the lineup.
Betting Trends
- HOU are 15-41 in their last 56 games on grass.
- HOU are 16-43 in their last 59 overall.
- HOU are 62-159 in their last 221 road games.
- Over is 8-3 in LAA last 11 Mon. games.
- LAA are 7-17 in their last 24 Mon. games.
- Over is 10-1-2 in Richards’ last 13 home starts.
- Over is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Angels –
The Astros pitching staff has improved during their winning streak, including Keuchel, who has 47 strikeouts in 53 innings. Not to mention that they have had success in LA this seaon.
Nevertheless, Richards is as good, and even though the Houston lineup is producing like it hasn’t all season, I don’t think it will be enough to topple the red-hot Halos in this one.
