AL West bottom-feeders kick off a three-game series Monday night, as the Houston Astros visit the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium.
The clubs spent MLB’s opening weekend splitting a four-game set in Houston. Now they’ll meet just a few miles away from Disneyland, with the Angels (25–41, 5th AL West) aiming to inch closer in the standings to the division rival Astros (30–37, 4th AL West).
Looking at the pitching probables, Houston right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (7–1, 1.94 ERA) will face Los Angeles righty Grayson Rodriguez (2–2, 9.50 ERA).
First pitch is at 9:38 p.m. ET. The Astros enter as 1.5-run road favorites with -131 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Angels are +109 underdogs, with the game total set at O/U nine runs.
Astros vs. Angels Preview
Houston Astros
A slew of injuries has slowed Houston’s attempted resurgence in 2026. And even as several Astros return to health, they’re still looking to produce — for their once-dynastic standards — more digestible results.
Although an improvement, the club has gone a middling 14–14 over the last 30 days. The offense, meanwhile, has completely stalled. Even with superstar slugger Yordan Alvarez — who leads MLB in OPS (1.081) and the American League in home runs (22) and RBIs (48) — firmly atop the American League MVP race, Houston sits 25th league-wide in wRC+, 26th in wOBA, and 21st in total runs scored during that stretch.
Still, the Astros have seen dramatic improvement elsewhere on the roster — particularly the bullpen. Responsible for the fifth-worst bullpen ERA (4.98) in MLB this season, Houston’s arm barn, which recently welcomed back All-Star closer Josh Hader, has posted a top-five ERA (2.88) over the last 30 days.
The streaking relievers will look to back up right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, who enters Monday with an impressive 1.94 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP through nine starts (51 IP) this season. While his underlying metrics — a 4.97 xERA and a lofty walk rate — forecast that a hefty regression is on the horizon, he has limited hard contact better than just about anyone in the sport.
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels are hoping that Sunday’s 13–5 blowout road win over the Dodgers can spark a turnaround. They return home staked to the worst record in the American League, already nine games out of first place in the AL West.
Offense has been the least of the team’s worries. Los Angeles, led by a rejuvenated Mike Trout, hovers around the middle of the pack in wRC+ (17th), wOBA (18th), and total runs scored (12th). Outfielders Jose Siri and Wade Meckler, along with infielder Nick Madrigal, have all gotten off to hot starts since their respective season debuts in May, each hitting .340 or better with an OPS north of .830. Zach Neto also seems to be turning a corner, going yard in back-to-back games.
Still, LA’s run prevention remains a serious problem that continues to exacerbate. The pitching staff has posted a bloated 5.42 ERA over the last 30 days, the second-highest mark in MLB over that span. Add to that a porous defense that anchors the sport in fielding run value (-20).
The Angels will hope for better results Monday night from right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. The third-year starter owns a swollen 9.50 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP in his first four starts (18 IP) of 2026, with his advanced metrics — a 7.07 xERA, a .305 xBA, and a 50% hard-hit rate — only adding to the horror.
Astros vs. Angels Pick, Best Bet
Houston’s replenished bullpen should make the difference in this one. While Arrighetti has benefitted from some staggering batted-ball luck, his lockdown relievers should be there to back him up the second that things start to go south. The same can’t be said for Rodriguez, who will soon have to go one-on-one with one of the game’s most formidable power threats in Alvarez. Count on the Astros to strike first in Monday’s series opener in Anaheim.
