The Los Angeles Angels look to continue their run of strong play when they battle AL West rival Texas in the middle of a three-game set. The Angels won seven of the first nine games between the clubs this season, including a sweep of the Rangers in Arlington earlier this month.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Angels’ incredible run was slowed a tad Thursday with a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins, snapping the Halos seven-game winning streak. Still the Angels won 17 of 21 games to move ahead of the Houston Astros in the NL West. Included in their run was a three-game sweep at Texas that started a 7-2 road swing leading into the All-Star break. The Angels were better after the break, winning their first six of a 10-game homestand before Thursday’s hiccup. LA is up 4.19 units during their home stay after Thursday’s loss. LA won seven of the first nine games between the clubs this season, up 4.31 units, while averaging 6.9 runs. The Angels have outscored Texas 62-29 in the season series with the over at 6-2-1.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Yovani Gallardo (7-9, 2.91 ERA) has revitalized his career this season with the Rangers and has been mentioned in numerous trade rumors. The attention might be getting to him as he is 0-3 with a 5.28 ERA in his past three outings – that all came after four straight scoreless outings that covered 26.1 innings. Gallardo is 3-5 with a 3.36 ERA in 11 road starts after a 10-0 loss to the Astros on Sunday when he allowed five runs in four frames. He’s allowed just one homer in his last 67 innings.
Gallardo has never faced the Angels.
Hector Santiago (7-4, 2.30 ERA) had his last start pushed back a day by the first rainout in Anaheim in 20 years. But that didn’t stop him from throwing five innings of one-run ball with 10 strikeouts to lower his ERA to 2.30 – tied for second-best in the AL. The lefty has quietly been among the league’s best starters and has won three consecutive starts compiling a 0.95 ERA with 20 strikeouts over 19 innings in that stretch.
Santiago blanked Texas on four hits over seven innings in a 13-0 win on July 4 and was given 27 runs of support in his three starts against them this season going 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“There’s no doubt that he’s pressing; absolutely no doubt. He’s a confident guy and he knows what he can do. It’s just not happening right now, so there’s frustration. There’s not a lot, really, that you can do. We had him on the bench a little bit, we played him, between games we’re trying to get him in a rhythm, he’s working hard.” – Angels manager Mike Scioscia on the struggles of Matt Joyce, buried in an 0 for 21 slump.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
As well as the Angels have been playing, weaknesses in left field and now third base, have been masked with a bunch of wins. The Angels will have to address both areas soon and the trade deadline is great opportunity. Matt Joyce was acquired from Tampa Bay in the offseason to replace Josh Hamilton in left, but he’s batting a career-low .179 in 84 games and is hitless in his last 21 at-bats. And now third base is a concern after David Freese was put on the disabled list with a fractured finger on his right hand. For now it looks like the Angels will rely on Kyle Kubitza, who was recalled from Triple-A for his second stint with the big club, as their third baseman. Kubitza was hitting .276 in 78 games at Salt Lake and was leading the Pacific Coast League with 33 doubles. Rookie Taylor Featherston, who’s hitting just .130 in 69 at-bats, will also get a look.
PROP TALK
Yovani Gallardo has never faced the Angels, but he has a long history with LA’s slugger Albert Pujols from their days in the NL Central. Pujols smacked three homers in the Angels’ doubleheader sweep of Boston on Monday to take the Major League lead with 29. He’s hit 18 home runs since the start of June – that number alone would rank him in the top 20 in the majors – while batting .281. Pujols is a .444 career hitter against Gallardo with 12 hits in 27 at-bats, including four home runs and 11 RBIs for a 1.441 OPS.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Yovani Gallardo hasn’t had to face the Angels this season, missing them each time in their previous three series. It’s probably a good thing for him considering how the Angels have manhandled the Rangers’ staff this season. Gallardo ended a string of nine straight starts without giving up a home run in his last outing and will need to keep the ball in the yard against the Halos, who have the top two long ball hitters in the majors in Albert Pujols and Mike Trout. The Angels will ride the reliable left arm of Hector Santiago for another win over the Rangers.
Los Angeles 6, Texas 3
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Texas Rangers versus the Los Angeles Angels will commence Saturday, July 25, 2015, at 9:05 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
