The lone national TV game around the major leagues on Thursday night is from the AL West as the Los Angeles Angels visit the Houston Astros, who are favored behind ace Framber Valdez.

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

Angels vs. Astros Game Information

Live from @MinuteMaidPark. pic.twitter.com/blrKEvymqV

— Houston Astros (@astros) June 1, 2023

• When: Thursday, June 1, 2023, 8:10 PM ET
• Where: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
• TV: BSDET, SNET-1, MLBN
• Radio: WXYT-FM 97.1 FM (Angels) // 96.3 Big FM (Astros)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Angels (+176) // Astros (-204)

Why bet on the Los Angeles Angels?

The Angels might get back third baseman Anthony Rendon for the opener as he’s close to a return from a groin injury. Prior to landing on the injured list on May 14, Rendon had been hitting .301/.415/.369 with just one home run, 20 RBI and two stolen bases in 130 plate appearances.

Halos outfielder Mickey Moniak is one of three players in the Majors with three leadoff HR this year, along with Mookie Betts (LAD) and Christian Yelich (MIL). On May 13 at Cleveland, Moniak became the first player in MLB history to make his season debut on his birthday and hit a leadoff home run.

Los Angeles has three wins this season when trailing after eight innings, which matches the Angels total from each of the last two seasons.

Lefty Reid Detmers (0-4, 4.93) gets the call for the Angels. Detmers (0-4) took the loss Friday, allowing three runs on 10 hits and two walks over five innings against the Marlins. He struck out five. Outside of his outing at Boston on April 16 (two runs over 6.1 innings), he hasn’t been able to complete six innings in a game this season and has a 4.93 ERA and 1.53 WHIP.

A 26.2 percent line drive rate and a modest 45.0 percent pull rate on grounders have contributed to Detmers’ .387 BABIP, which has bloated his ERA and WHIP. His batted ball profile should improve as the season wears on. Detmers has gained even more velocity on his slider — from 86.0 mph in 2022 to 90.2 mph this year — and that uptick has coincided with far more swinging strikes on that pitch. In four career starts vs. Houston, Detmers is 1-1 with a 3.98 ERA (20.1 IP – 9 ER) and 21 strikeouts. On May 10 last season, Detmers no-hit the Tampa Bay Rays, the 12th no-hitter in Angels history.

Closer Carlos Estevez is the first Angels pitcher to convert his first 13 save opportunities of a season since Troy Percival had 16 straight successful save opportunities to begin the 2001 season. Hunter Renfroe is first in the American League with five outfield assists this season. Since 2017, his 61 outfield assists lead the Majors.

Why bet on the Houston Astros?

It’s the Angels’ first visit to Houston this season. The Halos lost two of three at home to Houston from May 8-10. The Astros didn’t have star second baseman Jose Altuve healthy then but he is now. The team remains without former All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley, who started to take dry swings. Brantley has been sidelined since early May due to lingering inflammation in his surgically-repaired right shoulder. There’s still no potential timeline for when he’ll make his 2023 season debut.

It’s ace lefty Framber Valdez on the mound for Houston. Valdez (5-4) picked up the win last Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over six innings in a 6-3 victory over the A’s. He struck out five. Valdez won his third straight decision while producing his ninth quality start in 11 trips to the mound this season. Valdez was impressive in May, posting a 2.18 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 40:7 K:BB over 33 innings.

Since 2020, only Miami ace Sandy Alcantara has more starts of seven-plus innings (39) than Valdez (32). He is likely to cross the 200-strikeout threshold for the first time in his career should he log a full season, with his 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings marking a career high. And it’s not just by his own standards that Valdez’s strikeout numbers in 2023 are notable. His 27.6 percent strikeout rate ranks No. 11 among all American League starters.

Angels vs. Astros Betting Trends

• Angels are 2-4 SU in the last 6 games.
• Angels are 4-11 SU in its last 15 games against Houston.
• The total went over in 4 of LA Angels’ last 5 games.
• Houston is 15-5 SU in the last 20 games.
• Astros are 7-2 SU in the last 9 games at home.
• The total went over in 4 of Houston’s last 5 games.

Angels vs. Astros Betting Prediction

Astros 6, Angels 3.

Where to Bet on the 2023 MLB season with Bitcoin

Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the 2023 MLB Season with bitcoin. The power of crypto and its lightning-fast transactions make the entire MLB Season betting more enjoyable.

Stay tuned for more 2023 MLB season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest baseball betting odds on our online bitcoin sportsbook.