Future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander pitched well in his first start back with the Houston Astros via trade with the New York Mets but suffered a loss at Yankee Stadium. He makes his home Astros return Friday against the LA Angels as a solid betting favorite.

Nitrobetting checks out the game in this preview. Get a complete look at the game information, team and player statistics, and the latest MLB odds. We also deliver timely betting trends and predictions that help you secure the best picks.

Angels vs. Astros Game Information

Winning road trip secured. pic.twitter.com/qoHcpb9y06

— Houston Astros (@astros) August 10, 2023

• When: Friday, August 11, 2023, 8:10 PM ET
• Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
• TV: BSW, ATTH
• Radio: AM 830 KLAA (Angels) // 790AM KBME (Astros)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Angels (+165) // Astros (-196)

READ MORE: Blue Jays vs. Guardians MLB Odds, Preview and Prediction – August 9, 2023

Why bet on the Los Angeles Angels?

The Angels have followed a seven-game losing streak with back-to-back wins to get back to .500 at 58-58 and keep their slim wild card hopes alive. AL MVP lock Shohei Ohtani got the win on the mound over the Giants on Wednesday and walked twice while scoring a run. Dude is unreal.

As a hitter, Ohtani leads the majors in home runs (40), total bases (283), slugging percentage (.669) and OPS (1.078) and is tied for the MLB lead in triples (7) and extra-base hits (66). He is the first player ever with multiple seasons of 10+ home runs and 10+ pitching wins.

LA remains without its other superstar in former AL MVP Mike Trout. He has been out for more than one month now after suffering a left hamate fracture and undergoing surgery. There’s still no timetable but it now seems a matter of days instead of perhaps weeks.

“Once I feel comfortable, you know, not altered my swings and the pain tolerance is pretty low, I’ll be out there,” Trout said earlier this week, adding that the pain is getting better and better each day. When asked if he thought he would benefit from a rehabilitation assignment Trout said, “I’m trying to get back as fast as I can. We’re running out of time.”

The Angels have an MLB-high 18 players on the injured list and have used the IL a total of 28 times this year for 25 different players.

It’s lefty Reid Detmers (2-8) on the mound. Detmers allowed seven runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners last Friday. Detmers has gone five straight outings without a win, and he’s failed to complete five innings in three of those appearances. He has a 4.78 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 131:41 K:BB through 105.1 innings over 20 starts this season.

Detmers has allowed three-or-fewer earned runs in 14 of 20 starts this year and two-or-fewer earned runs in 11 of the 20. He had a five-start stretch from June 8 – July 2, going 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA (31.2 IP – 5 ER) and 43 strikeouts and was the second pitcher in Angels history to have five straight starts with 8+ strikeouts and two-or-fewer runs allowed, joining Nolan Ryan (7 straight starts in 1972-73).

In six career games vs. Astros, Detmers is 1-2 with a 4.88 ERA (31.1 IP – 17 ER) and 29 strikeouts. This season, he is 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA (11 IP – 8 ER) in two games vs. Houston.

Why bet on the Houston Astros?

Two key Astros hitters are a bit banged up in first baseman/DH Jose Abreu and outfielder Chas McCormick, neither of whom was in Thursday’s starting lineup in Baltimore. McCormick was originally in there but then scratched. He hurt his knee while diving for Adley Rutschman’s first-inning triple during Wednesday’s win over the Orioles.

McCormick has been one of Houston’s most consistent producers all year, batting .275/.368/.522 with an .891 OPS, 15 home runs, 47 RBI, 12 stolen bases and 39 runs scored in 247 at-bats. Since July 24, McCormick has gone 11-for-41 (.268) with three home runs, two doubles, a triple, 12 RBI, a steal and nine runs scored while reaching base in 12 straight games.

Abreu is in a major slump right now but his back is bothering him so that may be why. He is set to be reevaluated this weekend when the Astros return home. Jon Singleton started at first Thursday and likely will continue to play there if Abreu misses more time. He is one of 17 active players with 250+ home runs and is the 4th Cuban-born player to have reached the mark.

It’s right-hander Justin Verlander on the mound, making the 500th start of his career. He ranks 2nd among active pitchers in career starts to KC’s Zack Greinke (536 GS). In his first start with Houston last Saturday since being reacquired from the Mets at the Trade Deadline, Verlander (6-6, 3.11 ERA) lost at the Yankees. He gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings and struck out four. Verlander allowed back-to-back hits to start the bottom of the second, leading to a sacrifice fly from Anthony Volpe for the Yankees’ first run of the game. The right-hander would then retire seven of the next nine batters he faced before serving up a hanging slider to Jake Bauers, who went yard.

Verlander has now allowed two earned runs or fewer in four consecutive starts and in six of his last seven. With his reacquisition, this marks Verlander’s 7th consecutive season in Houston (2017-23). He has not faced the Angels this year and is 15-11 with a 3.20 ERA in 30 career starts against them.

Angels vs. Astros Betting Trends

• LA Angels are 2-7 SU in its last 9 games.
• LA Angels are 2-7 SU in the last 9 games against Houston.
• The total went under in 5 of LA Angels’ last 6 games on the road.
• Houston are 7-3 SU in its last 10 games.
• Houston are 4-1 SU in the last 5 games at home.
• The total went under in 5 of Houston’s last 7 games when playing as the favourite.

Angels vs. Astros Betting Prediction

Angels 2, Astros 6.

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