Closing Friday’s first full MLB betting slate out will be the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland A’s with each club looking to get the year started out on the right foot in front of a nationally televised ESPN audience. The homebased A’s didn’t do much to improve the roster via free agency, but will instead depend on one of the more impressive young up-and-coming rosters MLB has to offer. LA on the other hand brought in a new manager in Joe Maddon, and added the potent and patient stick of Anthony Rendon to pair up with Mike Trout atop what looks to be a much improved batting lineup. All 10 of these division rivals meetings means something, so look for both squads to put their best foot forward in hopes of challenging the Astros in what’s certain to be an ultra-competitive AL West pennant race.
First pitch for the game between the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland A’s is scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2020, at 10:10 p.m. ET from RingCentral Coliseum. The matchup will be shown live on ESPN. You can bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
MLB Betting Odds
Los Angeles +128
Oakland -143
Total: 8.5
Odds Analysis
With Frankie Montas returning from suspension to get the Opening Day start, online sportsbooks initially installed the A’s prohibitive -150 home chalk to take the first of this four-game series on Friday night. Since then, MLB bettors have lowered the impost by betting heavily into the visiting Halos with Andrew Heaney on the bump. As it stands, public bettors have pushed the Angels’ rate of return down to +128 with little to no sharp money infiltrating the market. Though Oakland came out triumphant in 13 of the division rivals’ 19 overall 2019 meetings, upwards of 65 percent of the bet count has surfaced on the visiting Angels. The total hit the board at 8.5 -110 and still remains there though the vig is starting to creep up in favor of this being a high scoring tilt.
Probable Pitchers
When healthy, Heaney has proved to be a difference maker. Unfortunately, he’s been unable to avoid the injury bug for a bulk of his six-year playing career. The lefty went 4-6 with a lofty 4.91 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through 18 total starts a season ago. He opposed the A’s at home twice and allowed 12 hits (2 HR) and 6 ER through 11.1 combined innings of work; LA dropped both contests with the O/U splitting. Lifetime versus Oakland, Heaney stands 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA through six starts, but has thrived in the Coliseum where he’s allowed just 10 hits (2 HR) and racked up a 14:1 K/BB ratio through 15 innings of work.
Frankie Montas was a contender for the AL Cy Young Award before his season was cut short due to testing positive for a banned performance enhancing substance. Before that occurred, the righty had gone 9-2 and allowed just 7.9 hits per nine innings while racking up an impressive 103:23 K/BB ratio. He takes to the bump in 2020 with a chip on his shoulder as the leader of the A’s young pitching staff. He dominated through four 2019 starts against the Angels in going 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA and .192 BAA while striking out 20 and only issuing eight free passes. Upper management doesn’t seem to be too concerned about him getting caught for PEDs by tabbing him their Opening Day starter.
Player Prop Targets
Though arguably the best player in the game, Mike Trout might be someone you want to fade on the player prop odds with him managing just one hit through eight career at-bats against Montas with a 2:2 K/BB ratio. The same can’t be said for Shohei Ohtani whose split his six career at-bats and took him deep once. None of the A’s current power bats have done much of anything to speak of versus Heaney. Matt Olson’s 2-for-7 lifetime without an extra base hit, while Matt Chapman’s 1-for-8 lifetime with the lone hit leaving the yard. Ramon Laureano has had the most success and could be the Oakland bat to target in going 2-for-6 with a double and home run. The first five and full game under might be the play here!
MLB Pick
Until the Angels show me they’re an improved team under the new coaching staff, I’m going to take a wait and see approach. This year marks the 10th season that Bob Melvin’s been calling the shots in Oakland, and that gives the A’s the upper hand over their division rivals out of the gates. Only the Astros and Yankees won more games at home in the AL than the A’s in 2019, and I’m banking on Montas and the bullpen to come out like gangbusters and help make sure that trend continues to kick off 2020.
MLB Odds: A’s 4, Angels 2
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
