The Los Angeles Angels used an impressive run to take over the top spot in the AL West and
face the Minnesota Twins for the first time this season. The Twins have struggled on the road and are coming off their worst defeat of the season Sunday in Oakland.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Things didn’t go as planned for the Twins out of the All-Star break, losing the last two of a three-game set with Oakland. The Twins were pounded on Sunday, absorbing their worst loss of the season in a 14-1 thrashing and their inability to win on the road is confusing. Minnesota has the best home record in baseball but they have the second-fewest road wins in the American League and are down 0.75 units on the moneyline despite being the second-most profitable team in the AL in the black 17.16 units. They are 30-15 on the runline on the road and 59-33 overall up 18.05 units.
The Angels hot streak was slowed by the team’s first rain out in 20 years, forcing them to play a Monday doubleheader with the Red Sox. Mother Nature might be the only one to slow down the Halos, who came out of the break with a pair of shutout wins over Boston giving them 13 wins in 16 games to take over the top spot in the AL West. The Angels were in the black 10.04 units on the moneyline during that run and are up 5.04 units overall in games at Angel Stadium.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Kyle Gibson (8-6, 2.85 ERA) was Minnesota’s most consistent starter in the first half and after making the final start before the All-Star break against the Tigers, gets an extended rest. Gibson was sharp against Detroit, tossing seven innings without allowing an earned run. He’s allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last five starts going 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA. He’s struggled with control at times but his recent strong run dropped his WHIP to 1.21.
Gibson’s had issues pitching at Angel Stadium, giving up nine hits, including three homers, and nine runs over eight innings in two starts for a 10.13 ERA.
Matt Shoemaker (4-7, 4.85 ERA) will start the series opener with a move to the bullpen a possibility once Jered Weaver rejoins the rotation. His last appearance was an inning in relief in the Angels’ last game before the break when he allowed a run. In his three previous starts Shoemaker gave up two earned runs in each but failed to pitch beyond the sixth inning. He’s regressed after his 16-win rookie campaign in 2014.
Shoemaker allowed three runs on six hits in four innings taking a no-decision on Sept. 5, 2014 in his only start against the Twins.
QUOTE TO NOTE
Gibson’s 2.85 ERA is the fourth-lowest by a Twins starter at the All-Star break dating back to 1992, but Gibson says he’s not paying much attention to his ERA. “I try not to watch that too much and just focus on each outing. I’m definitely excited about it, but Mollie [Paul Molitor] came up to us to remind us that the work isn’t done and there’s a long way to go. So right now, 2.85 doesn’t mean too much.”
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
With All-Stars Mike Trout and Albert Pujols getting all the headlines during the Angels’ recent run of success, the contributions of Kole Calhoun have gone largely unnoticed. The Angels right fielder notched his first career multi-homer game Saturday, smacking two solo shots of Rick Porcello in the Halos’ 3-0 win over the Red Sox. And Calhoun has been excellent at the plate for a few weeks now, sparking Anaheim’s surge to the top of the AL West. In 16 games since June 27, Calhoun is batting .324 with six homers, 17 RBIs and 13 runs scored as the Angels showed a little spark offensively. “You’re not going to get one guy to do it every night,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “Kole is one of those guys that there’s no doubt we count on. He’s really been an important piece of our lineup hitting in front of Mike [Trout].”
PROP TALK
Another player who has helped the Angels charge to the top of the AL West is shortstop Erick Aybar, whose bat came alive during a nine-game road trip leading up to the All-Star break. Aybar hit .486 (18 for 37) during the trip, raising his average to .287, the highest it’s been since the first week of the season. He began the trip with his first five-hit game and had multiple hits five times in that stretch. He hits .400 in his career against Kyle Gibson and has thrived since moving to fifth in the order with a .371 average.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Twins stink on the road. And that’s not good heading into Anaheim against a hot Angels team. Minnesota may get a break with its best pitcher throwing and facing a team that had to play a doubleheader the day before. Nah. The Halos are hitting their stride and Matt Shoemaker is looking to keep his spot on the staff. He likely gets bumped when Jered Weaver returns, but injuries happen and Weaver hasn’t been that reliable. Shoemaker needs to flash his 2014 form and he delivers with a strong performance.
Los Angeles 5, Minnesota 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 Minnesota Twins versus the Los Angeles Angels will commence Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at 10:05 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
