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BookMaker is the only online sportsbook where you can get the earliest MLB moneylines, runlines, totals and props. If you want to wager on baseball odds like the pros do, you need to join BookMaker today! The ballgame between the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics will take place Monday, April 3, 2017, at 10:05 p.m. ET at O.co Coliseum. The matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
All the preseason prognosticators have the Angels and Athletics battling for last place in the AL West while the other clubs fight for first. That may end up being the case, but hope springs eternal and the Halos have the best player in the game on their side. The legend of Mike Trout will continue to grow but if the Angels don’t find a way to get to the postseason, it will be a lost cause.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
The Angels finished ahead of the Athletics last season thanks to taking the season series 12-7 and that’s likely the only reason why the Halos are projected to finish better than only Oakland in the competitive AL West this season. Both clubs struggled last season with injuries and overall poor play and neither did much to address their many needs. Entering the 2016 campaign, the Halos’ strength was their pitching. That disintegrated quickly and 13 players started multiple games.
The A’s are a longshot pick to win the division at +2547 and appear destined to bring up the rear for a third straight season. Oakland is already dealing with an injury to ace Sonny Gray, who experienced back issues in spring training and will miss the opening series. And that doesn’t help the Athletics as they try to bounce back from a pair of seasons where they failed to reach 70 wins. Their win total this season opened at 73.5 and there should be some improvement, but will there be enough to challenge the over?
PROBABLE PITCHERS
After a strong spring where he sported a 3.52 ERA in four appearances, the Angels tabbed veteran righty Ricky Nolasco as their opening day starter. Nolasco flourished after joining the Halos in a mid-season trade, posting a 4-6 record with a 3.21 ERA in 11 starts. Mike Scioscia had options but decided to go with the hot hand.
Nolasco has a lifetime mark of 108-103 with a 4.52 ERA over 297 games during his 11-year career and joined the Angels after compiling a 5.13 ERA in 124.2 innings with the Twins in 2016. He tossed eight innings of five-hit ball picking up the win in LA’s 8-1 victory over the Athletics in his final start of the 2016 season.
With Gray sidelined, the A’s will give the ball to Kendall Graveman for his first Opening Day assignment. He went 10-11 with a 4.11 ERA in 31 starts last season, leading the staff in starts, wins and innings pitched. The righty tossed 7.0 innings in his final spring start, allowing five hits and a run with seven strikeouts against the White Sox.
LIVE BETTING
Another area that hurt the Angels last season was their bullpen and the relief corps is struggling with injuries again even before the new season starts. Huston Street was attempting to regain his closer role, but he went down early this spring and landed on the disabled list. By default, the job goes to Cam Bedrosian, who posted a 1.12 ERA with 51 strikeouts across 40.1 innings last season.
Being the son of one of the best closers is about all the experience Bedrosian has in that role. In his three seasons, Bedrosian has more blown saves than actual saves and he’s being entrusted with the job. He has the stuff and didn’t allow a run in 8.0 spring innings, which is why he was given the job over Andrew Bailey. But putting up zeroes in the spring is much different than doing it when the games actually count.
QUICK PICK
The Angels have Trout and it’s hard to imagine him not impacting the game in some way. He can do it with his bat, his glove, or his legs and sometimes with all three. The Halos upgraded their roster with Cameron Maybin joining the outfield and the offense should be better with Yunel Escobar at third and a healthy, but aging, Albert Pujols.
The A’s attempted to upgrade their roster as well, but they’ll probably be the best worst team in the Majors. Graveman is solid on the bump, but the A’s lack some offensive punch behind Khris Davis and Marcus Simien. If Nolasco can control the dish, he should have a solid outing leading the Angels to an Opening Night victory.
MLB Odds: Angels 5, Athletics 3
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