The Los Angeles Angels (33-33) face the Oakland Athletics (41-27) in the second game of their three-game set Tuesday at Oakland Coliseum. First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Angels vs. Athletics odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Oakland took the series opener 8-5 after the Athletics lit up L.A. starter Dylan Bundy for 7 ER on 5 H and 2 BB as he was chased after just 2 1/3 IP.
Season series: Athletics lead 5-3.
LHP Andrew Heaney is the projected starter for the Angels. Heaney is 4-3 with a 4.37 ERA (57 2/3 IP, 28 ER), 1.23 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9 and 10.8 K/9 across 11 starts.
- Last outing: Win, 8-1, with 6 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB and 7 K last Tuesday vs. the Kansas City Royals.
- vs. Athletics on the current roster: 120 at-bats with a .208/.262/.450 slash line, 37/7 K/BB, 7 HR and 18 RBIs.
RHP Frankie Montas makes his 14th start for the Athletics. Montas is 6-6 with a 4.37 ERA (70 IP, 34 ER), 1.36 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 9.4 K/9 this year.
- Last outing: Loss, 6-1, with 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB and 8 K Thursday vs. the Royals.
- Montas lost vs. the Angels, 4-0, three starts ago with a stat line of 5 2/3 IP, 0 ER (4 R scored), 6 H, 1 BB and 7 K.
- vs. Angels on the current roster: 78 at-bats with a .244/.344/.397 slash line, 23/9 K/BB, 3 HR and 11 RBIs.
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Angels at Athletics odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 2:05 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Angels +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Athletics -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Angels +1.5 (-190) | Athletics -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under: 8 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Prediction
Angels 4, Athletics 3
Money line (ML)
Slight “LEAN” to the ANGELS (+105) for a quarter unit since the only handicapping angle I can find to separate the two in this matchup is a contrarian play against the lopsided betting market.
For instance, at publishing more than 80% of the money wagered is on Oakland’s money line but oddsmakers have moved the Athletics’ number down from the -140 opener, according to Pregame.com.
That sort of “reverse line movement” suggests to me that the House is comfortable taking pro-Oakland money in this game for whatever reason.
The starting pitchers’ numbers are pretty much identical, but Heaney has been a little sharper on the road this season while Montas has been less effective in Oakland.
Also, both lineups are strong against their respective opposing starter’s handedness and each bullpen ranks fairly similarly in several advanced pitching metrics.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
PASS because Angels +1.5 (-190) is out of my price range since I can only “lean” to L.A. on the money line.
If I felt stronger about the Angels’ side in this contest then I’d flirt with the idea of laying it with L.A.’s alternate run line.
Over/Under (O/U)
“LEAN” to the UNDER 8 (-110) for a half unit because the presumed “sharp” side of the market is backing the Under despite a majority of the trends pointing to the Over and public money on the Over.
For instance, according to Pregame.com at publishing, nearly two-thirds of the money wagered is on the Under while more than 75% of the bets placed are on the Over.
Typically, it’s more profitable in sports gambling to follow the money instead of the crowd.
Oddsmakers are reacting more to the money than the action since the total has been steamed down from the 8.5-run opener.
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