ODDS ANALYSIS
The Angels just can’t seem to handle prosperity. Last week the Halos knocked off the Rays in the first of a three-game set for their fifth straight win and they were ready to make their mid-season move back into contention in the AL West. Hold on, not so fast.
Tampa Bay turned around to win the final two games of that series and the Angels were embarrassed in New York over the weekend. The Halos broke a five-game skid with Tuesday’s 8-2 win in the series opener matching a season-high with 15 hits. Monday’s game went over the scoreline and the over is 3-0-1 in the first four meetings between the clubs and 6-3-1 in LA’s last 10.
The Rays are having their own struggles producing runs but solid pitching – except for Tuesday’s game – has them at 3-2 over a five game stretch where they’ve scored just nine times. Tampa Bay’s combo is a good recipe for cashing the under and the Rays have done that often at home. The under is 8-3-1 in their last 12 home games and 21-9-1 overall.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Garrett Richards (5-4, 4.14 ERA) couldn’t overcome a nightmarish first inning in the Bronx on Saturday, giving up six runs on five hits, two walks and a wild pitch, leaving before recording the third out. He was getting squeezed in the strike zone and only Brian McCann’s homer was hit hard. Still, ouch. He’s allowed 17 earned runs in his last four starts with his ERA going from 2.29 to 4.14.
Richards allowed three runs on six hits over six innings in a 7-3 home win over the Rays on June 1. He’s 2-1 with a 5.02 ERA in three career starts against them.
Alex Colome (3-2, 4.54 ERA) tossed six solid innings giving up seven hits and a run in a no-decision Saturday at Seattle. It was the fifth time in eight starts he allowed two or fewer runs. The Rays are 1-5 in his last six starts.
Colome faced Richards when the teams met on June 1 and took the loss giving up nine hits, including three homers, and five runs in six innings. It was his first career appearance against the Halos.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I can’t hang my head on this. I know what I bring to the table. Tonight wasn’t my night. I made some good pitches. They put some good swings on the ball, a couple found holes. I’m going through a rough patch. It is what it is. I’m not going to sit here and make excuses. It’s baseball. This is the big leagues.” – Angels pitcher Garrett Richards after giving up six runs to the Yankees and not escaping the first inning in his last start
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash is frustrated and it isn’t just the series opening loss that has him boiling. The Rays’ struggles haven’t yet translated to a losing streak like the one Los Angeles was riding entering the series, but they likely will if Tampa Bay can’t pick it up at the plate. The Rays were limited to six hits in their 8-2 loss on Tuesday and have scored nine runs in their last five games with no more than three runs in any of them. Their team batting average over that stretch is .175. “Pretty frustrating,” Cash said about his team’s offensive woes following Monday’s game. It could be worse, though. The Rays actually have a winning record going 3-2 thanks to a 2.05 ERA. The likely return of Evan Longoria, who hasn’t started for three games with a sore wrist, could help the offense.
PROP TALK
Angels’ slugger Albert Pujols is in the middle of a streak that resembles his MVP days with the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games following his three-hit night in Tuesday’s 8-2 win. He’s done his part in helping the Halos snap out of their offensive malaise batting .395 over his last 11 games, bumping his average to a season-high .268 after entering that stretch on May 28 at .235. His 3 for 4 effort Tuesday brought his average against the Rays in four games this season to .500 with four of his 16 home runs off Tampa Bay pitching. Pujols is riding a hot streak and he continues his onslaught with a few more hits.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It was around this time last year when Angels starter Garrett Richards faced his biggest test as a professional. On May 30, 2014, he gave up five runs and recorded only two outs in Oakland, then called the outing “embarrassing” and vowed not to let it ruin his progress. He dominated from there going 9-2 with a 1.79 ERA over his next 14 starts before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. The Angels are hopeful for a similar turnaround and there’s no reason to believe it can’t happen. Richards gets a crack at a Ray’s lineup that isn’t exactly pounding the baseball and he comes through with a quality start.
Los Angeles 4, Tampa Bay 1
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 Los Angeles Angels versus the Tampa Bay Rays will commence Thursday, June 11, 2015, at 7:10 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field. The matchup can be seen live on FSN and SUN Sports.
