A decade ago, the Los Angeles Angels were one of the most respected and successful franchises in Major League Baseball. To show, from 2002 through 2009 the Angles went to the playoffs six times and won the World Series in 2002. Manager Mike Scioscia ran the dugout during that span and stayed in his capacity through the 2018 season when he and the Angels both agreed that he was a dead battery. The unfortunate Brad Ausmus took over a shell of a team in 2019 and paid the price for a 72-90 campaign. Although not his fault he was still canned at season’s end. And it did not take long to figure out why. The Angels went all in on Joe Maddon, who brings a level of championship credibility that Ausmus could never hope to match. The arrival of Madden has sent hopes soaring with fans and has also made gamblers optimistic about a 2020 recovery for the Halos.
We’ll have MLB Odds at Bookmaker.eu available for every game of the 2020 MLB season.
2020 Los Angeles Angels Win Total Odds at Bookmaker.eu: 85.5, over -125, under -105
The Los Angles Angels have suffered through four consecutive losing seasons and last made the playoffs in 2014. Had Maddon not arrived it’s very unlikely that they would have a win total so high at 85.5. But perception is reality, at least as how the public influences the odds. Linemakers saw the hype, and are charging full retail prices. Yet LA can surpass the mark in an AL West that is now up for grabs after the Houston Astros scandal this offseason.
Joe Maddon
It’s no exaggeration to call newly arrived manager Joe Maddon a miracle worker. First, he won the 2008 American League pennant with the Tampa Bay Rays, a franchise with no revenue and little payroll. In fact, the Rays made the playoffs in four of his seven seasons on the job. Next Maddon did the impossible in Chicago where he led the Cubs to their first World Series title in 108 years. And it was no accident as Chicago became the class of the National League Central with four playoff appearances. Now he faces the daunting task of trying to regain credibility for a franchise that has always been second fiddle to the Dodgers.
On the Hill
Last year the Angeles ranked an abysmal 25th in MLB for staff earned run average and 30th for quality starts. Fixing that will be Maddon’s first order of business.
Julio Teheran arrives from the Atlanta Braves to fortify the rotation. Teheran is a two-time All-Star that has been under 4.05 on earned run average in six of his last seven seasons.
Also factoring as the projected number one starter is Andrew Heaney. Last year Heaney was on the shelf much of the season but the Angels believe he can regain his form of 2018 when he was considered to be one of their better starting pitchers.
Closer Hansel Robles saved 23 games with a 5-1 record and a 2.48 earned ruin average last year. Robles struck out 75 batters in 72.2 innings of work. It was a remarkable performance considering the weak Angels team that he suffered with.
At the Plate
Any conversation about the Angles must begin with center fielder Mike Trout, the three-time American League Most Valuable Player Award winner and eight time All-Star. What should scare opponents is that Trout is coming off a career high 45 home runs in 2019. Maddon figures to build around this franchise player that is in his prime.
Third baseman Anthony Rendon arrives from the World Series champion Washington Nationals where he was an All- Star for 2019. Rendon also had a career high 34 home runs and 126 runs batted in.
Los Angeles Angels Win Total MLB Betting Odds Pick
With the Astros in turmoil only the Oakland A’s rate as a viable alternative in the AL West. The Angels have enough to be in the hunt to the final weekend of the season.
MLB Betting Odds Prediction: Los Angeles Angels over 85.5 wins in 2020
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