Angels vs. Rays Preview + Free Pick

[Shame About Ray]

MLB Online Baseball Betting – Rays Seek Winning Ways as Angels Visit

The Tampa Bay Rays, (18-16, 15-19 O/U) have been one of the best sports betting stories in the early going of the 2008 season and have posted a solid 10-7 record at home this season and enter tonight’s online betting matchup against the Los Angeles Angels, (221-14, 15-17-4 O/U) coming off a convincing 8-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on the road on Thursday.

"This is big for us," said Rays catcher Dioner Navarro, who hit a grand slam in the 13th inning. "We had a bad series in Boston and we came back here. A game like this is going to get us pumped up for the next series back home."

The Rays, who have won six consecutive games at home in the BetUS Sportsbook, will be facing an Angels team that has posted a solid 12-6 mark on the road this season, but is coming off a disheartening 9-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday after taking the first two games of that series.

The Rays, who have swept their last two home series, including a three-game set with the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox and will look to improve on their best start in their 11-year franchise history by handing the ball to right-hander James Shields, (3-2, 3.80 ERA) who is looking to bounce back from his worst start of the season as he was rocked by the Red Sox I his last outing, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and three walks in just 3 2/3 innings as the Rays lost 12-4 on Saturday.

The Angels will counter with veteran right-hander Jon Garland (4-3, 5.08) who is coming off an impressive performance in his last outing as he limited the Baltimore Orioles to one run on three hits in eight innings of L.A.’s 3-1 win on Saturday.

Garland is an impressive 3-0 with a 2.62 ERA in five starts at Tropicana Field, though he will be facing a different team this time around.

Angels left fielder Garrett Anderson has homered in three consecutive games against the Royals.

"The pitches I hit were just mistakes out over the plate," Anderson said.

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my MLB Betting Picks.

The Angels are 0-6 in their last six games following an off day.
The Angels are 4-1 in Garland’s last five starts vs. a team with a winning record.
The Rays are 5-0 in Shields' last five home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
The Rays are 5-0 in Shields' last five starts as a home favorite.
The Under is 6-2-2 in Angels last ten Friday games.
The Under is 6-1 in Shields' last seven starts as a home favorite of -110 to -150.
The Under is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
The Angels are 46-16 in the last 62 meetings.

Analysis: Believe it or not MLB bettors, this contest is actually going to be one of the better games on the entire board tonight as both Shields and Garland can dial it up with the best pitchers in baseball on occasion. And speaking of dialing, I’m thinking Garland is locked in after his best start of the season last week, while Shields had better get back to the form he displayed earlier this season in the worst way. While the Rays could win this series, I like the Angels to come through in a big way tonight.

MLB Free Picks: Angels 5 Rays 3

07:10 PM EST MLB Odds

Los Angeles Angels
Jon Garland - R +1½ -155

Tampa Bay Rays
James Shields - R -1½ +135

Over 8½ -120
Under 8½ EV