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Update 3:37 p.m. ET: Monday’s game between the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels has been postponed due to the effects of Tropical Storm Hillary. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader Wednesday.
Original column below (published 8:58 a.m. ET)
The Cincinnati Reds (64-61) and the Los Angeles Angels (61-64) open a 3-game series Monday at Angel Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Reds vs. Angels odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting since splitting 4 games in 2019
The Reds open this interleague set 4 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Cincinnati has a 24.8% chance of making the postseason per ESPN.
Cincinnati dropped 2 of 3 games at home against the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, and it is 2-3 in the past 5 outings overall — all in interleague play. The Reds are 19-13 this season vs. AL. The Under has hit in 4 of their past 5 games.
The Halos dropped 2 of 3 games at home against the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, and Los Angeles is just 5-13 in the past 18 games since flipping the calendar to August. The Over has cashed in 5 of the past 6 games and is 7-2 in their last 9 contests.
Reds at Angels projected starters
RHP Graham Ashcraft vs. RHP Lucas Giolito
Ashcraft (6-8, 4.89 ERA) makes his 24th start. He has a 1.40 WHIP, 3.4 BB/9 and 6.4 K/9 through 127 IP.
- Last start: Loss, 7 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K in 3-0 home loss vs. the Cleveland Guardians Tuesday
- 2023 road splits: 3-1, 3.78 ERA (50 IP, 21 ER), 4 HR, 1.46 WHIP, .275 opponent batting average (OBA) in 9 starts
Giolito (7-9, 4.44 ERA) makes his 26th start. He has a 1.28 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 9.5 K/9 through 142 IP with the Angels and Chicago White Sox.
- Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K in 7-3 road loss vs. the Texas Rangers Tuesday
- 2023 home splits: 4-2, 2.62 ERA (68 2/3 IP, 20 ER), 8 HR, 0.90 WHIP, .184 OBA in 11 starts
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Reds at Angels odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:50 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Reds +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Angels -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Reds +1.5 (-190) | Angels -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Reds at Angels picks and predictions
Prediction
Angels 4, Reds 3
Moneyline
The ANGELS (-125) are worth backing in this interleague series opener, mainly because Giolito has pitched well at home this season. Most of that good work was with the White Sox, who were a dumpster fire for a lot of the season. He has a single home start under his belt with the Halos, allowing just 3 ER and 3 H in 6 IP on Aug. 8 against the San Francisco Giants.
Run line/Against the spread
The Reds +1.5 (-190) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return if you’d like a little insurance. That’s just too much risk for not enough reward. If you like Cincinnati, just play it straight up.
PASS.
Over/Under
UNDER 9 (-110) is the lean in the interleague series opener, but go lightly.
The Under has connected in 4 of the past 5 games overall for the Reds and is 12-3 in the 15 contests dating back to Aug. 3.
The Over has cashed in 5 of the past 6 games overall for the Angels and they’ve gone high in 5 of the past 6 at Angel Stadium, too. As such, be careful.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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