The Houston Astros (50-41) take on the Los Angeles Angels (45-46) in the opener of a 3-game set at Angel Stadium Friday. First pitch is at 9:38 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Astros vs. Angels odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Astros lead 5-2

The Astros ended the first half with a 6-4 record and crawled within 2 games of the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead. They will be operating without OF Yordan Alvarez (oblique) and 2B Jose Altuve (oblique). Alvarez went on a rehab assignment and could be back next week and Altuve shouldn’t be far behind.

The Angels limped to the All-Star break losers of 9 of 10 games to fall 7 games back in the division and 5 games from a Wild Card spot. They’re operating without OF Mike Trout (hand) who is recovering from surgery to repair a broken hamate bone and won’t be back for 2-6 weeks. The Halos will need a quick start out of the break to get back in it and avoid potentially selling off major assets.

Astros at Angels projected starters

RHP J.P. France vs. RHP Shohei Ohtani

France (4-3 3.26 ERA) makes his 12th start. He has a 1.21 WHIP 2.8 BB/9 and 6.5 K/9 in 66 1/3 innings.

• Last start: Win 6 IP 3 ER 6 H 1 BB 4 K July 4 vs. Colorado Rockies
• 1 career start vs. Angels: No-decision 7 IP 1 ER 3 H 1 BB 3 K June 4

Ohtani (7-4 3.32 ERA) makes his 18th start. He has a 1.10 WHIP 3.9 BB/9 and 11.8 K/9 in 100 1/3 innings.

• Last start: Loss 5 IP 5 ER 7 H 4 BB 5 K against San Diego Padres July 4
• Last 5 starts vs. Astros: 2-2 2.81 ERA 1.16 WHIP 37 K in 32 IP

Astros at Angels odds

• Moneyline (ML): Astros +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Angels -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Astros +1.5 (-160) | Angels -1.5 (+135)
• Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Astros at Angels picks and predictions

Prediction

Angels 3 Astros 2

Moneyline

Ohtani left his last start with a blister on his finger. These can be recurring and it’ll be something to watch in his first start back. The Astros have gotten to Ohtani for 7 ER in 13 IP this season but they’re missing 2 key cogs in the lineup. I don’t think they beat him 3 times in a season but I’m also not confident enough in the Angels’ offense to put -160 on their ML.

I’ll go with SHOHEI OHTANI OVER 17.5 OUTS (-145). He has tossed 6 IP in 4 of his last 5 starts against Houston.

Run line/Against the spread

The Astros have been great on the RL away from home at 27-17. The Angels are just 17-26 on the RL at home. Houston is 7-3 in the last 10 against the Angels.

I’m willing to take the juice with the ASTROS +1.5 (-160) because this has to be a low-scoring game for the Angels to win.

Over/Under

The Over is 4-5-1 in the last 10 between the teams. The Astros are 3-6-1 O/U over their last 10 and the Angels are 6-3-1.

If the Angels want to win this game it has to be a low-scoring one. I think Ohtani can set that tone for a team that needs to come out of the gates firing.

Take the UNDER 8 (-110).