The Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros will take the field on Saturday at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles (58-58 SU and 55-61 RL) is starting left-hander Tyler Anderson. The 33-year-old is 5-3 with a 4.92 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in 20 appearances (19 starts).
Houston (66-50 SU and 59-57 RL) is countering with right-hander J.P. France. The 28-year-old is 8-3 with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 16 outings (15 starts) this season.
The Astros are -175 moneyline favorites and the game total is 9.5 runs scored.
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The Angels are still in the hunt for a Wild Card spot after several trade deadline acquisitions, but they'll need to be more consistent to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014. If they can't, they may risk losing the sport's top talent in free agency this offseason.
LA scores 4.89 runs per game (7th) and hit .254 (11th) with a .772 OPS (5th). It's hit 174 home runs (3rd) and stolen 56 bases (27th) in 2023. The Halos' pitching staff sports a 4.43 ERA (20th) and a 1.36 WHIP (21st) with 37 quality starts (17th).
Drury dinger ??#GoHalos pic.twitter.com/jAt72YYm4N
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 9, 2023
Anderson will start for the visitors on Saturday night. The veteran southpaw gave up two hits and two runs in his last appearance, a five-inning no-decision vs. Seattle. In his last start against Houston on July 16, he held the 'Stros to one run but only lasted three frames. Anderson, who sports an 86:44 K:BB ratio in 2023, has allowed three or less runs in seven of his last eight outings.