Angels vs. Astros: Game 2, prediction, odds, injuries and picks

Angels vs. Astros: Game 2, prediction, odds, injuries and picks - April 12, MLB 2025

Modified Apr 12, 2025 15:50 GMT

Astros catcher Yainer celebrates after hitting a grand slam against the Angels (Getty)

The LA Angels' run of fine form came to a screeching halt during Game 1 of their three-game series against the Astros in Houston on Friday. The Astros utterly dominated visitors, winning 14-3 as they smashed three home runs, including a grand slam.

Before the contest, the Halos had the second-best win percentage in the American League. Time will tell if it's just a minor dink in their growth as a team or a momentum breaker that will have long-term repercussions.

Game 2 of the series will see the two teams square off on Saturday at 7:10 p.m. ET at Daikin Park.

Angels vs Astros recent form and records

With the loss against the Astros, the Halos' record stands at 8-5. They still own the second place in the AL West on the back of their recent impressive performances, excluding the clobbering at the hands of the Astros.

The 'Stros, meanwhile, improve to 6-7 after a rough start to the season. Their groundbreaking win featured a rare feat they haven't done since their dominant ways in the late 2010s. For the first time since 2019, the Astros sent nine batters each to the plate in consecutive innings when they exhausted the lineup in both the fifth and sixth innings of yesterday's game.

Players to watch

Starting pitchers

LAA: Tyler Anderson (0-0, 4.50 ERA), HOU: Ryan Gusto (1-0, 1.13 ERA)

Must-Watch Hitters

LA Angels

At the time of writing, three-time MVP Mike Trout is tied for the major league home run lead with six home runs. The modern-day icon has remained relatively healthy and is mashing balls this year. Along with Trout's six home runs are 12 RBIs on 29 base hits and an OPS of .926.

Expand Tweet

Angels vs Astros baseball betting odds

Saturday, 4/12	Money Line	Run Spread	Total Runs
LAA	+135	+1.5, -163	O 8.5, -134
HOU	-147	-1.5, +133	U 8.5, +110

Angels vs Astros expert picks and game prediction

The Halos were utterly overwhelmed in Game 1 of the series. Apart from Trout, Jo Adell and Jorge Soler, the team's bats failed to deliver against their AL West nemesis. Known as one of the most brilliant minds in baseball, skipper Ron Washington should cook something up to avoid replicating what happened yesterday.

As for Houston, it just needs to replicate its aggressive approach. The offense produced three home runs that included Cam Smith's inaugural MLB home run and a grand slam by Yanier Diaz, and it looked like the powerhouse Astros squads that preceded them in the late 2010s during the contest.

Expect fireworks to fly in Space City between the two AL West teams as they fight for position in the now-competitive division.

Run Line: -1.5, +133

Total Runs: O 8.5, -134

Prediction: HOU wins, 9-6

About the author

Daniel Santiago is a journalist who has been reporting on baseball at Sportskeeda since 2022. He was drawn towards the sport after the underlying statistics and the analysis surrounding it grabbed his attention.

Daniel particularly enjoys furnishing reports about historic events in baseball and analyzing the game through a statistic-based outlook, based on Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference. This is in line with how he enjoyed watching baseball as a pastime. As a writer, he is very particular about cross-checking from reputable sources and doing his due diligence.

He became a lifelong Hideki Matsui fan after his exploits in the 2009 World Series for the New York Yankees. Among the current generation, Daniel's favorites include Shohei Ohtani and Jung Hoo Lee. Daniel is a huge follower of Asian baseball and both Ohtani and Lee have been in the top echelon of their respective leagues during their time with the NPB and KBO.

His favorite moment as a baseball fan was the final at-bat of the 2023 World Baseball Classic between Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. He believes there aren't many words to fittingly describe the intensity of the moment.

As an avid sports fan, Daniel watches other sports and Esports when not writing about baseball.

Know More

Edited by Daniel Santiago