For the finale of a four-game home slate, the Los Angeles Angels entertain the Boston Red Sox Thursday night. The Halos have dropped each of the first three meetings between these clubs by one run each, including an extra innings defeat on Tuesday. That was bookended by shutout losses on Monday and Wednesday.
It’s just been another unlucky break for the Angels (27-31) during a horrible stretch that saw manager Joe Maddon get the boot. Before the 14-game losing slide began, Los Angeles was ten games over .500. They now sit 9.5 games behind Houston in the American League West.
Things are going conversely for Boston (30-27), who has come out on the right side of seven straight. The Red Sox are looking for their second consecutive series sweep on the West Coast after dominating Oakland last weekend.
Over the last week, three Boston batters with at least 16 plate appearances are hitting .313 or better – those being left fielder Alex Verdugo, third baseman Rafael Devers, and center fielder Enrique Hernandez. Center fielder Franchy Cordero has driven in six runs, and both Verdugo and Devers have 5 RBIs during that span.
Right fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. has had the most success of any Red Sox player against the Angels’ pitching this season. He has a .500 batting average in 10 at-bats, including three doubles.
They’re all a help to designated hitter J.D. Martinez, who paces the team by swinging for a .353 average at the moment.
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels Odds
MLB odds have the Angels getting the monkey off their backs in this one. Los Angeles is -1.5 on the run line at +162, while the Red Sox are -196 to cover the spread.
On the moneyline, the Angels are -130 and Boston a +110 underdog. The total has been set at eight runs, with the over being -102 and the under -120 at the time of this writing.
With how recent MLB betting trends have gone, the Angels are at a disadvantage. One of the team’s brightest stars, center fielder Mike Trout, is dealing with an injury he suffered earlier in the bill. He leads Los Angeles with a .284 batting average and 14 home runs.
Over the last seven days, first baseman Jared Walsh and second baseman Matt Duffy have done their part to try to break the spell, hitting .320 and .318, respectively. The group has dealt with a power outage during that stretch, as they’ve only notched one homer in seven contests.
Matchup Information
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels Betting Preview
For being Los Angeles’ premier hurler, Shohei Ohtani hasn’t particularly risen to the occasion to this point. He has a 3-4 record and a 3.99 ERA. The Angels have lost each of his last four starts, including a three-inning effort last Thursday in which he allowed the New York Yankees eight hits.
The last time Ohtani earned a decision came against the Red Sox, though. On that day, over a month ago, he turned in seven frames of work, holding Boston scoreless.
The visitors offer up 29-year-old righty Nick Pivetta, who is the owner of a 1.10 WHIP. After getting off to an 0-4 start, he’s won each of his last five outings, the last being a seven-inning two-hitter against the Athletics. He struck out seven in that game.
Red Sox at Angels Picks and Predictions
The Angels are mired in their worst two-week go of it in franchise lore. It seems as if nothing is going their way. It’ll only get even more frustrating in this one, as Pivetta and Boston power out to a four-game sweep.
With these MLB picks today, go for the visiting Red Sox to extend their surge at the expense of a team that is trying anything to snap out of it.
Get to betting on baseball and go with Boston to win this one outright.
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