MLB Predictions: A’s vs Angels Lines
The Oakland Athletics will make the trip over to Anaheim to open up a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. The Athletics come to town having won six of their last seven games, while the Angels have wins in three of four.
Oakland Athletics (8-4) at Los Angeles Angels (6-6)
Date: Monday, April 14, 2014
Time: 10:00 PM ET
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
City: Anaheim, California
O/U Odds: 8
Money Line: Oakland -114, Los Angeles +105
Pitching Matchup: RH Jesse Chavez (0-0, 1.38 ERA) at LH Hector Santiago (0-2, 7.71 ERA)
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Jesse Chavez gets the nod for the Athletics. He had posted a 5.99 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 156 appearances between 2008 and 2012, but since the start of the 2013 season he’s made 37 appearances, posting a 3.45 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in those outings.
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The Athletics certainly couldn’t have hoped for as much as they’ve gotten from Chavez thus far. While the team dropped each of his first two starts on the year, he certainly wasn’t to blame for either of the loss, and came away with no decisions in each, posting a 1.38 ERA along the way.
He’ll hope to get a little more run support and get some help from the bullpen this time around by take the hill for an Athletics team that has gone 5-1 to start a nine-game road trip. Chavez must have felt right at home in Sunday’s tilt with the teams playing to a scoreless tie into the eighth inning in Seattle, though in that one they were able to come away with a 3-0 victory, thanks largely to a two-run bomb by Yoenis Cespedes.
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Chavez allowed just a single earned run over six innings of work in his first start of the year against Seattle, then threw an even better game against Minnesota on Wednesday, allowing just one run on six hits in seven innings of work, striking out a career-high nine batters, though Jim Johnson blew the save in the ninth inning, costing Chavez the win.
Chavez’s contributions have helped the Athletics’ rotation to an AL-best 1.95 ERA. In fact, Oakland comes into this game having not allowed a run in 17 innings.
The Angels counter with Hector Santiago who took the loss in each of his first two starts this season, posting a 7.71 ERA along the way. Cespedes in particular should give him trouble on Monday, going 3 for 4 with a home run against him in his career.
Santiago should get some extra help this time around as the Angel offense seemed to come alive on Sunday, compiling 17 hits – five of them homers – in a 14-2 win over the Mets.
The Angels come into this contest with wins in three of their last four contests, but it’s certainly the Athletics that enter this game in better form. They also have an edge on the mound, leaving little reason to like the Halos in this one.
The Athletics are 5-1 on the road this season, and are 12-6 in their last 18 games in Anaheim.
The play: Oakland -114
