The Los Angeles Angels are set to host their division foe Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The matchup will be televised nationally on Fox Sports One and the game gets underway 4:05 p.m. ET.
Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels Odds
Los Angeles (-125) is hosting this one as the favorite over Texas (+115) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs. Odds for wagering on the game’s total currently sit at -115 for the over and -105 for the under. Runline odds stand at -180 for taking the Rangers +1.5 runs and +160 for the Angels -1.5.
The Angels are 2-6 straight up (SU) and 3-4 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 5.6 units for moneyline bettors and 1.6 units ATS. The Rangers are 5-3 SU and have gone 6-1 against the spread. Overall, the team’s gained 6.0 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going and 5.0 units ATS.
Angels games have a 1-5-1 over/under record so far in 2019. Texas has an over/under record of 5-2.
Left-hander Drew Smyly (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will get the ball for the visiting Rangers. Smyly did not record any MLB pitching stats in 2018.
The Angels are turning to lefty Tyler Skaggs (0-1, 3.86 ERA), who struck out 129 hitters over 125 innings last year (with only 40 walks), while finishing the season 8-10 overall with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He made two starts against Texas a year ago and compiled a 2-0 record with a 0.82 ERA and 13 strikeouts.
As a unit, Los Angeles’ pitching staff has given up 4.0 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have a 5.95 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 6.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 1.95, a WHIP of 1.16 and a K/9 of 9.4. In eight divisional games, Angels starters have an ERA of 5.95 and the bullpen’s ERA is 1.95.
The Los Angeles offense has produced 2.5 runs per outing, including 2.4 per game over its last five. The team has hit .182/.244/.314 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Angels’ batters have been led by Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun. Trout is slashing .375/.515/.833 with nine hits, six RBIs and four runs scored, and Calhoun is batting .219 with seven hits, four RBIs and four runs.
In the visiting dugout, Texas’ pitching staff allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.59 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 6.98 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.45, along with a K/9 of 7.24.
The Rangers offense has slashed .248/.345/.457 on its way to 5.8 runs scored per game this year, including over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Shortstop Elvis Andrus and third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera have led Texas’ hitters. Andrus is slashing .424/.441/.545 with 14 hits, five RBIs and five runs scored, while Cabrera (.241/.303/.586) has produced seven hits, three homers, seven RBIs and six runs scored.
The Rangers have gained 0.3 units and are 1-1 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in two of those games, compared to zero that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Angels have lost 2.0 units and are 1-1 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s hit in zero of those games, compared to two that went under the total.
Rangers vs. Angels MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Angels, ATS Winner – Rangers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Angels went 13-6 SU against the Rangers in 2018.
- The Rangers’ bullpen posted 3.24 ERA against the Angels last year.
- The Rangers have a team OPS of .802 this season and an OPS of .892 against left-handed pitchers. The Angels’ OPS stands at .548 overall and their right / left split is nearly identical.
