Astros vs. Angels MLB Picks: Reigning AL MVP Faces Reigning AL Champs

Can the Los Angeles Angels finally stay healthy and put it all together this year? They have reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani on the mound as they host the AL champion Houston Astros in Thursday's season opener. Read on for our Astros-Angels picks.

The Angels are hoping that this is finally the year that they can put it all together. They haven't finished over .500 since 2015 and haven't made the playoffs since 2014, but Los Angeles has more than a few top names in Ohtani, Mike Trout, and Anthony Rendon, among others. The Halos finished last season with a 77-85 record.

The Astros are looking to kick off another successful campaign. They've made the playoffs in five straight seasons, including three World Series appearances (2017, 2019, 2021) and one championship (2017). They finished atop the AL West last season with a 95-67 record, but lost in six games to the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.

Here are my MLB picks and predictions for Thursday's game between the Astros and Angels (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Astros vs. Angels Game Info

Date: Thursday, April 7, 9:38 p.m. ETTV: ATT Sportsnet-SW, Bally Sports WestLocation: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CAWeather: 82 degrees, 0% chance of precipitation, wind WNW 5 mph

Astros vs. Angels Odds

Astros vs. Angels Odds Analysis

The Angels are slight home favorites on Opening Day, ranging from -122 on FanDuel to -130 on DraftKings and BetMGM. As expected, the Astros are road underdogs between +104 (FanDuel) and +112 (Unibet).

The total opened at eight runs and is up to 8.5 across the board. You can get the Over 8.5 at -105 on FoxBet and Under 8.5 at +100 on BetMGM, depending on which way you lean.

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Astros vs. Angels Projected Pitchers

Framber Valdez (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP) vs. Shohei Ohtani (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP)

Framber Valdez is the first Astros Opening Day Starter not named Zack Grienke, Justin Verlander, or Dallas Keuchel since 2014 when Scott Feldman took the ball for the first game of the season. Valdez had a strong 2021 season, going 11-6 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 134.2 innings across 22 starts.

Ohtani is also getting his first Opening Day start. The reigning AL MVP went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 130.1 innings across 23 starts last season. He had 14 quality starts among them.

Astros vs. Angels Picks

Moneyline: Angels (-122 via FanDuel) ???Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-105 via FoxBet) ????Player prop: Shohei Ohtani Over 4.5 strikeouts (-160 via BetMGM) ????

SEE ALSO: World Series Odds and Picks

Astros vs. Angels ML Pick

Angels (-122)

The Angels have the advantage on the mound with Ohtani, who will also be batting leadoff atop a dangerous Los Angeles lineup. It's a lineup that includes three-time AL MVP Mike Trout, Jared Walsh off a breakout 29-homer season, and Rendon, who is just a few years removed from a 34-homer, 126-RBI season in 2019 with Washington.

However, Houston is no slouch. The Astros lost Carlos Correa in the offseason, but they still have most of their lineup returning with Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, and Kyle Tucker among their big bats.

There's just something different about the Angels this year. They can be a top team in the league if they stay healthy, and they're fully healthy to begin the season. The Halos should come out on top at home on Opening Day.

SEE ALSO: Brewers vs. Cubs Picks

Astros vs. Angels O/U Pick

Over 8.5 (-105)

I mentioned all of the power in both lineups above, and they should be able to put up some runs. Both sides have multiple guys capable of getting on base and hitting the ball out of the ballpark.

You usually have to worry about the weather on Opening Day, but not in Anaheim. It's going to be around 80 degrees at first pitch and the ball should be flying. On top of that, the Over is 10-4-1 in 15 games between these two teams at Angel Stadium over the past three seasons.

Astros vs. Angels Prop Bet

Ohtani Over 4.5 strikeouts (-160)

This line is extremely low for Ohtani. He had at least five strikeouts in all but three of his 23 starts last season, including a 10-strikeout performance in Houston in May. Ohtani has swing-and-miss stuff and the Astros batters (or any batters for that matter) haven't seen stuff like that throughout spring training.

Ohtani should go at least six innings, giving him plenty of time to rack up the punchouts.

Where to Bet on Astros-Angels Picks

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel SportsbookCaesars SportsbookDraftKings SportsbookPointsBetBetMGM

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Astros-Angels picks made 4/6/2022 at 11:18 p.m. ET