Saturday, April 5, 7:10 PM on FSW, CSNH

Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas

Los Angeles - Skaggs, T (0-0) vs. Houston - Keuchel, D (0-0)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Saturday night, the Los Angeles Angels will send Tyler Skaggs to the hill to face the Houston Astros’ Dallas Keuchel.  Both pitchers are seeing their first action of the season. Skaggs starts his third season in the majors after coming over to the Angels from the Arizona Diamondbacks.  He saw limited work in Arizona but will be the 5th starter in Los Angeles and he will expect to see more than the 13 starts he has in his career.   Last season, Skaggs went 2 – 3 in seven starts with an ERA of 5.12.  Strikeouts (36) were up from 2012 (21) but so were walks.  Skaggs is still a young pitcher and growing pains are expected.

Given his limited experience, Skaggs hasn’t seen the Houston Astros.  Of the Astros’ lineup, Skaggs has only faced Jesus Guzman.  Guzman has one hit against Skaggs in 5 at-bats, but that one hit was a grand slam home run. 

Dallas Keuchel enters his third season after the most starts of his career in 2013.  Keuchel pitched in 31 games, starting in 22 and compiling a 6 – 10 record with an ERA of 5.15.   With the extra innings, he saw his strikeouts rise dramatically from 38 in 2012 to 123 in 2013.  But his walks only increased to 52 from 39 in 2012.  Keuchel has faced many of the Angels before but he will look out for Erick Aybar.  In 10 at-bats, Aybar has 5 hits including 2 doubles and 2 RBIs.   

Los Angeles Betting Trends

Los Angeles is 3-0-0 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Los Angeles is -6.0

Houston Betting Trends

Houston is 0-2-0 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Houston is +3.0

Injuries to Watch

Los Angeles 

03/30/14 P Brian Moran Elbow 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Dane De La Forearm 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Ryan Brasier Elbow 15-day DL (3/21)
03/30/14 P Sean Burnett Forearm 15-day DL (3/21)

Houston 

03/31/14 P Alex White Elbow 15-day DL (3/21)
03/31/14 P Asher Wojcie Side 15-day DL (3/21)
03/31/14 P Jesse Crain Bicep 15-day DL (3/21)

Josh's Pick: Take Houston

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