Los Angeles Angels vs Houston Astros Picks and Predictions June 22nd 2025

Angels Look for Another Statement Series Win in Finale vs. Astros

The Los Angeles Angels have spent the past week proving they can hang with the best in the American League. After taking a series from the East-leading New York Yankees, they have a chance to do it again on Sunday afternoon as they face the West-leading Houston Astros in a decisive rubber match in Anaheim. A second consecutive series victory over a first-place opponent would send a clear message to the rest of the league that the Los Angeles Angels are a legitimate threat.

The O’Hoppe Outburst

The Angels forced this rubber match thanks to a massive power display from their young catcher, Logan O’Hoppe. In Saturday’s 9-1 victory, O’Hoppe broke out of a long 19-game homerless drought in spectacular fashion, launching two home runs and driving in four runs. It was the fourth multi-homer game of his career and a welcome sight for a lineup that relies on his power from the catcher position. The joy and relief were evident after the game.

“It finally felt good to hit a ball flush again,” O’Hoppe said. “It had been a couple of weeks since that’s been going on. Felt good to get back in the groove. It was a team effort tonight, so that’s one we’ll definitely build on tomorrow.” His performance, along with a home run from Luis Rengifo, showed the depth of an Angels offense that can strike at any moment.

The Professor is In Session

To secure the series win, the Angels will turn to their veteran ace, Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 4.79 ERA), who is currently on a fantastic roll. “The Professor,” as he’s known for his cerebral approach to pitching, has won his last three starts, a stretch highlighted by a masterful performance his last time out where he blanked the powerful Yankees over six innings with nine strikeouts. Hendricks provided a detailed look into his craft, explaining how he dismantled one of the league’s best lineups.

“I went in with a good game plan, and just kind of saw what they were doing to us,” Hendricks said. “Getting ahead was a big key, establishing my fastball, especially inside to some of them, to get them to respect it a little bit. And then just being down, establishing both the fastball and the changeup, and then picking the spots where we needed to go up to change eyesight.” He will need a similar masterful plan on Sunday as he looks for redemption against the Astros, who tagged him for five runs in a loss back in April.

Houston’s Star Trying to Find His Way

While the Astros still hold a comfortable lead in the AL West, they are looking for more production from their big free-agent acquisition, first baseman Christian Walker. The veteran is hitting just .214 on the season, a far cry from the numbers the team expected when they signed him. Walker remains confident that his performance will turn around and is trying not to focus on the daily results.

“Feeling better lately, I feel like myself lately,” Walker told MLB.com. “I think I started so slow that the average and stuff are slowly coming up, it’s going to be very much a chip-away-at-it-all-year type of thing. But I think a good challenge for me right now is not getting caught up in what the scoreboard says.” How star players handle season-long slumps is a key factor to consider, a topic often explored in our expert betting guide.

Future Odds Shifting?

See Updated MLB Futures

Get Free Trial

A Rookie’s Redemption Shot

The Astros will counter the veteran Hendricks with a rookie of their own in right-hander Ryan Gusto (4-3, 4.31 ERA). Gusto is looking for a measure of redemption, as his only career start against the Angels came in a 4-1 loss back in April where he allowed three runs in just four innings. For a first-place team looking to put down a challenge from a division rival, a strong performance from their young pitcher would be a major boost. This battle between a hot veteran and a rookie looking for a bounce-back performance will be a key focus on the scores and odds board.

The Bigger Picture

A series win for the Angels would be a massive statement, proving their victory over the Yankees was no fluke and solidifying their position in the crowded AL Wild Card race. For Houston, it’s about fending off a challenger and getting their own young pitcher on the right track. This game has major implications for two of the most interesting MLB teams in the American League. To see who our experts think will win this crucial series finale, check out our daily MLB picks.