Los Angeles Angels vs Houston Astros Prediction: An important match for these sides

Monday's Major League Baseball action at Angel Stadium features a matchup between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels. Both teams have not been playing particularly well leading up to this match. While the Angels and Astros have each won one of the first two matches, whose team do you think will come out on top in this third and deciding game? 

The Los Angeles Angels have scored at least four runs in six of their previous eight games, including a total of 23 runs in their most recent three games. The Angels have failed to win six of their previous eight games despite scoring four or more runs in those outings. Shohei Ohtani has a team-high 106 hits and is in first place for the Angels with 72 runs batted in. Hunter Renfroe and Mike Trout have combined for 162 hits and 86 runs batted in. This is the first pitch for Tyler Anderson, who is now 4-2 on the season with a 5.25 earned run average and 68 strikeouts. In his career against the Astros, Anderson has a record of 0-1 with a 6.75 earned run average and 18 strikeouts.

The Houston Astros have scored at least four runs in six of their previous ten games, including a total of 20 runs in their most recent three games. When scoring four or more runs in a game, the Astros have won eight of their last nine contests. While Alex Bregman and Jose Abreu have combined for 169 hits and 105 RBI for the Astros, Kyle Tucker leads the team in hits (96) and runs batted in (60), respectively. The next batter is Cristian Javier, who is currently 7-1 on the season with a 4.34 earned run average and 82 strikeouts. In his career, Javier has a record of 5-1 versus the Angels, with a 2.49 earned run average and 68 strikeouts.

When Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier takes the mound, the Astros definitely have a slight advantage; however, in order for me to back him on the road, I need a better return on my investment. The offensive performance of the Los Angeles Angels has improved as of late, and the fact that they prevailed in an extra-inning game only last night may have had an impact.