HOU vs. LAA (Over 8.5)
(MLB) Astros (HOU) vs. Angels (LAA),
Total: 8.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Loss
Read my free game write-up for Saturday's game on our site!

I bet on the over at 8.5 total runs in Saturday's Astros vs. Angels divisional clash in Anaheim.

Tyler Anderson is due for negative regression (4.16 xERA, 4.81 xFIP and 4.83 SIERA) and the Astros have been successful against him in the past (315 BA/.375 OBP/.589 SLG/.964 OPS slash line with 6 homers and 12 doubles in 124 ABs). His second-half ERA is 1.77 points higher than his first-half ERA, as opponents are hitting .246 against him with seven homers in his nine starts. He isn't reliable against an Astros lineup that's 7th in wRC+ (106) and 8th in wOBA (.315) in the last 30 days.

Justin Verlander has been tough to trust lately, allowing 17 runs on 23 hits and 6 walks in his last three starts (13.2 IP). Even if he manages to tame the Halos, I don't expect him to last deep into the game, as he hasn't pitched past the fifth inning since his return from the IL and pitched 7.2 combined innings in his last two outings. 

On top of that, these bullpens have been fortunate recently and are due for negative regression. Both relief units are top ten in ERA in the past 30 days, but they have stranded a lot of runners on base (2nd and 6th-most in MLB). LA's pen has a 4.35 xFIP and 3.85 SIERA (compared to a 3.02 ERA) and Houston's pen has a 3.91 xFIP and 3.50 SIERA (compared to a 2.65 ERA).