This is a 10* BOOKIEKILLER on the Angels.

Shohei Ohtani did not pitch in the All-Star game, but batted second in the AL order. He likely would have been the starting pitcher if he did decide to take the mound. He was last year.

Ohtani enters the second half with a chip on his shoulder and I think he'll just be too much for counterpart JP France and the Astros to handle.

France is 4-3 with a 3.26 ERA, and overall he's been good this year, but this is just a case of the Houston starter being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

With a win, LA moves back to .500 and gets the second half started off with a win in front of the home town crowd, a place where they're still a respectable 23-20 thus far.

After faltering down the stretch of the first half, I'm expecting a response from the Angels here with their "ace" on the mound.

Lay the price, the play is LA.

Good luck, NP