The Oakland Athletics (58-46) and Los Angeles Angels (51-51) continue their four-game series Friday at Angel Stadium with a 9:38 p.m. ET first pitch. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Athletics vs. Angels odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Oakland won the series opener 4-0 as starting RHP Frankie Montas pitched 7 scoreless innings, surrendering just 3 hits, walking 3 batters and striking out 10.
Season series: Athletics lead 10-3.
RHP Chris Bassitt is on the hill for the A’s. Bassitt is 10-3 with a 3.46 ERA (130 IP, 50 ER), 1.06 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9 and 9.1 K/9 in 21 starts.
- Last outing: No-decision with 5 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 3 BB and 6 K in Oakland’s 5-4 loss at the Seattle Mariners Saturday.
- Bassitt is 2-0 this season against L.A. with a 1.08 ERA (16 2/3 IP, 2 ER), 7 H, 2 BB and 17 K in two starts.
- vs. Angels on the current roster: 3.00 FIP with a .262 batting average (BA), .305 expected wOBA, .325 expected slugging percentage (xSLG), 20.7 K% and 84.7 mph exit velocity (EV) in 92 plate appearances (PA).
- 2021 road splits: 6-0 with a 4.11 ERA (70 IP, 32 ER), 1.19 WHIP and 3.6 K/BB rate in 12 starts.
LHP Patrick Sandoval is L.A.’s projected starter. Sandoval is 3-4 with a 3.52 ERA (71 2/3 IP, 28 ER), 1.10 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 10.2 K/9 over 11 starts and three relief appearances.
- Last outing: Win, 2-1, with 8 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 BB and 13 K at the Minnesota Twins Saturday.
- Sandoval is 0-1 this season against Oakland with a 1.80 ERA (10 IP, 2 ER), 9 H, 4 BB and 7 K in two starts.
- vs. A’s on the current roster: 2.84 FIP with a .233 BA, .280 expected wOBA, .326 xSLG, 20.7 K% and 84.7 mph EV in 92 PA.
- 2021 home splits: 1-3 with a 3.79 ERA (38 IP, 16 ER), 1.21 WHIP and 2.9 K/BB rate in six starts and two relief appearances.
MLB betting offers/promotions
BetMGM Sportsbook offers available in CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV and Washington D.C. New customer offers, terms and conditions apply.
- Bet just $1 on either team’s money line, WIN $100 (in free bets) if either team hits a home run during the game. Bet now!
- RISK-FREE FIRST BET. Place your first bet, if it loses you’ll get up to $600 in free bets. Bet now!
Athletics at Angels odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 5:18 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Athletics -125 (bet $125 to win $100) | Angels +105 (bet $100 to win $105)
- Against the spread/ATS: Athletics -1.5 (+125) | Angels +1.5 (-155)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Prediction
Athletics 6, Angels 1
Money line (ML)
Sandoval’s previous outing against the Twins was one of the best starts of any MLB pitcher this season as his game score was a 90 (according to Baseball-Reference). He carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning and Sandoval’s 90 game score was the first non-complete-game shutout on the list (ranked 12th in 2021).
It is the only outing with a run allowed in the top-27 starts across the entire league.
Bassitt had a complete-game shutout vs. the Angels May 27. It was scored a 91.
Generally, starters regress the next time out when they have an outing similar to the Sandoval’s recent complete game. In fact, of the 11 starts that have been graded higher than Sandoval’s last outing, those teams are only 5-6 in the following games.
Sandoval had 108 pitches in his last start and is making this start on just four days of rest. Sandoval is 0-5 in his young career in starts on four days’ rest with a 6.82 ERA (31 2/3 IP, 24 ER), 1.83 WHIP and 1.8 K/BB rate over eight starts.
Finally, the A’s are 25-15 this season vs. lefty starters and are ranked 11th in wRC+ and fourth in home runs against left-handed pitching.
GIMME the ATHLETICS (-125) for 1 unit.
FANTASY BASEBALL: Serious about winning your league? Sign up for BaseballHQ.com to dominate the competition. Subscribe now!
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Bassitt is a fringe Cy Young contender. Sandoval wasn’t even in L.A.’s starting rotation Opening Day. In addition, Oakland has the second-best cover rate in the MLB as a road favorite this season (16-11 ATS).
The A’s are 24-22 ATS against divisional foes this year whereas the Angels have the worst cover rate in the majors vs. division rivals (13-30 ATS).
SPRINKLE a half unit on ATHLETICS -1.5 (+125).
Over/Under (O/U)
PASS even though Los Angeles is 23-20 O/U in division games and Oakland is 23-23 O/U in division games.
There are several Over-friendly trends in Athletics-Angels, so that’s the direction I “lean” toward. I just don’t like the total enough to wager on it.
PLAY: Free, daily sports pick’em contests. Play now!
Bet on this game now at BetMGM Sportsbook. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. This information is for entertainment purposes only. We make no representations or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any content.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]