On June 20, 2025, the Los Angeles Angels will battle the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium in the series opener. The Angels are currently at 36-38, struggling this season, while the Astros hold a strong 43-31 record, proving their status as top contenders.
Both teams are eager to boost their offense. The Angels rank 24th in MLB in overall offense, with a disappointing 27th in batting average, despite their impressive 4th position in home runs. Conversely, the Astros have hit a stride, boasting the 11th best offense and 2nd best batting average in the league. Hunter Brown, expected to start for Houston, has been outstanding this season with a 1.88 ERA, and he ranks as the 13th best starting pitcher by advanced-stat Power Rankings. His counterpart, Yusei Kikuchi, has struggled with a 3.05 ERA and a 2-6 win-loss record.
Kikuchi’s peripherals suggest possible regression, especially given his higher xFIP of 4.46. Facing a high-strikeout Astros lineup, ranked 2nd in MLB strikeouts, the matchup favors Houston’s Brown, considering the Angels’ tendency to strike out.
Betting lines reflect this, with the Angels as significant underdogs at +155, suggesting a team total of only 3.46 runs. On the other hand, the Astros’ implied team total is a solid 4.54 runs. Given the noticeable gap in current form and projections, Houston seems set to capitalize and continue winning.
Quick Takes Houston Astros:
Surprisingly, fastballs are generally less effective for pitchers. Hunter Brown has reduced his use of off-speed and breaking balls by 6.9% this year, down to 40.1% from 47% last year.
Fastballs are the easiest to hit and generate fewer strikeouts, so increased fastball usage can reduce a pitcher’s effectiveness.
Jeremy Pena has cooled off recently, with his seasonal exit velocity dropping from 87.6-mph to 84.4-mph over the past two weeks.
Hitting the ball hard increases the likelihood of home runs and scoring before fielders can reach it.
The Houston Astros (19.4 K%, according to THE BAT X projection system) are expected to have the 2nd-least strikeout-prone set of batters today.
THE BAT X analyses each player in today’s lineup to determine which teams are least likely to strike out against opposing pitchers.
Quick Takes Los Angeles Angels:
Yusei Kikuchi’s fastball velocity has decreased by 1.6 mph this year to 94 mph from 95.6 mph last year.
Velocity is crucial for fastball success in getting strikeouts and preventing runs, so decreased velocity can lead to worse results.
Bats like Mike Trout with flyball tendencies are usually more effective against groundball pitchers like Hunter Brown.
This relates to how a hitter’s swing interacts with pitch trajectory, potentially enhancing performance across various categories.
THE BAT projection system ranks the Los Angeles Angels’ bullpen as the 2nd-worst in the league.
Many bettors only focus on the starting pitcher, but a weak bullpen can make matchups easier for opposing offenses, increasing game runs.
Game Trends:
The Los Angeles Angels have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Over in 12 of their last 16 games (+8.15 Units / 42% ROI).
The Houston Astros have hit the Moneyline in 26 of their last 40 games (+10.30 Units / 19% ROI).
Taylor Ward has hit the Hits Under in 15 of his last 25 home games (+12.15 Units / 46% ROI).
Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Angels Prediction
Predicted Final Score: Houston Astros 5.29, Los Angeles Angels 4.3
Date: June 20, 2025
Venue: Angel Stadium
Starting Pitchers:
Hunter Brown – Astros
Yusei Kikuchi – Angels
Visit the MLB picks and predictions section for the rest of today’s games.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: SCCGManagement.com
