ODDS ANALYSIS
Too bad ace David Price can’t start every game for the Tigers. With their rotation in flux in between the lefty’s starts, Detroit turned to rookie Buck Farmer for the series opener and things didn’t go to well in a 12-2 loss. Farmer started in place of Kyle Lobstein, who took the rotation spot of Justin Verlander. Price looks to get things in order coming off his finest start of the month when he tossed seven shutout innings in Oakland. The Tigers have won each of his last six starts and improved to 9-1 this season when Price starts. Detroit has also cashed the under in each of his last three turns.
An offensive outburst by the Angels in their 12-2 win Thursday cashed the over for the second time in as many games with the over at 5-3 in their last eight. The Halos have been erratic all season putting a good run together followed by some duds and that’s why they’re hovering around .500 down 3.18 units on the moneyline and 2.45 units on the runline.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Detroit’s David Price (4-1, 2.97 ERA) scattered five hits in seven shutout innings in a 1-0 win at Oakland Tuesday. He’s been stellar all season with the exception of one outing bad outing against the Yankees when he allowed eight of his 22 earned runs on the season.
Price is 4-4 in 10 career starts against the Angels giving up 68 hits and four home runs in 64.2 innings for a 3.90 ERA.
Matt Shoemaker (3-4, 5.44 ERA) is coming off his finest outing of the season scattering four singles in seven shutout innings against San Diego on Tuesday. He walked one and struck out six picking up a no-decision in the team’s extra-inning loss. It was just the second time in nine starts he allowed fewer than three earned runs.
Shoemaker gave up three hits over seven scoreless innings with five Ks in his only appearance against the Tigers, a 4-0 home win on July 26, 2014.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“All I can do is keep fighting, man, and continue to do my work. As long as I’m putting good swings, I’m not concerned about it. And I’m doing that. If I’m rolling over and striking out, that’s when you need to be concerned. When I’m hitting line drives, hitting balls hard, putting good swings on the ball, there’s nothing I can do.” – Angels first baseman Albert Pujols on his .238 batting average
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
If the Angels don’t get to David Price early, they might not get to him at all. Price retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced in his last outing clamping down with runners on base. He held the Athletics hitless in 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 on the night. The Tigers are 9-1 in Price’s 10 starts and 5-0 on the road. Price is stingier in away games sporting a 1.82 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while opponents hit just .208 against him.
PROP TALK
It’s about time LA’s Albert Pujols busted out. Sure he’s not the player he was during his MVP years in St. Louis, but he’s still only 35 and has some quality seasons in front of him. Pujols got the scoring started in the series opener blasting a first inning two-run homer, his ninth of the season, and is on pace for 30. Albert has monster numbers against Detroit over his career with a .383 average and nine home runs in 120 at-bats with two of his three career hits off David Price leaving the yard. If Pujols starts hacking like we’ve seen in the past the Angels could get on a nice roll.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
With the exception of one bad outing Detroit’s David Price has been virtually unhittable. Take away the eight runs he allowed in 2.1 innings to the Yankees and Price has a sparkling 1.96 ERA, but we can’t do that. Price is still dealing and has been magnificent on the road making the Angels task that much tougher. Knocking around Buck Farmer is one thing, getting to David Price is another. While the Angels have shown signs of finding some offense the Tigers remain mired in a slump and their record at Angel Stadium since 2002 dropped to 15-42 with Thursday’s loss.
Still it’s hard to bet against David Price and what he’s accomplished on the road this season and during his career. We like Price to continue his dominance with another strong effort to shut down the Halos.
Detroit 5, Los Angeles 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 Detroit Tigres versus the Los Angeles Angels will commence Sunday, May 31, 2015, at 8:05 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
