Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Yankees Predictions
Series odds: Yankees -167
Pitching
The Yankees have the best overall starter in CC Sabathia who was 12-2 after the all star break. After that the Yankees open up to A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettite, and Joba or Chad Gaudin who was very solid down the stretch. It’s been said that the Yankees might go to a three man rotation with Sabathia starting game 4 and game 7.
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Pitching on short rest would be nothing new for Sabathia as he did so regularly down the stretch for the Brewers a year ago in dominating fashion. However, against the Angels this year Sabathia was 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA as the Angels hit lefties very well you have to expect that if he starts three games the Angels should be able to pick up at least one win.
For the Angels it starts with Lackey and then Jered Weaver followed by Scott Kazmir and Joe Saunders. The keys are with Weaver who has struggled on the road in the past, but has been dominant at home. Can he pitch well on the road, that will be the question. Also Kazmir has a career 2.67 ERA and they may be looking to him to shut down the left handed power bats in the Yankees line up. Starting pitching definitely goes to the Angels in this match up for me.
Bullpen advantage to the Yankees. Seems very obvious with the best closer in MLB history and post season history in the closer role for the Yankees in Mariano Rivera. Yankees were ranked 14th in MLB in bullpen ERA while the Angels ranked 23rd. It seems as though the Yankees will continue to use Joba out of the pen giving them a very solid top 3 relievers in Joba, Hughes, and Rivera to close out games. However, the Angels bullpen led round one in bullpen ERA as Fuentes saved two games against Boston and they collectively had 1.42 ERA giving up a total of just six base runners on 4 hits and 2 walks. The Yankees come in second with a 1.80 ERA, but opponents are hitting .341 and I think the Angels who have good bats could do some damage.
Edge: Angels
Hitting:
From top to bottom the Angels have dangerous hitters in terms of getting on base. They may not pose a power threat with home runs compared to the Yankees who have hit 71 more home runs than the Angels, but the Angels led the league in hitting with a .285 average.
Yankees actually check in second and nine points ahead of the next team in the majors on the list with a .283 average just two points behind the Angels. As I mentioned the Yankees hit 71 more home runs and many could say it’s because of their ball park, but they have several power hitters such as Nick Swisher who hit more home runs on the road than at home. Yankees have the leagues highest OPS at .839 as they walked 663 times this year compared to the Angels 547.
Obviously we are dealing with some premium hitters in this series and it should be a lot of fun. However, the edge will have to go to the Yankees. They have arguably the best post season and clutch hitter of all time in Derek Jeter and their ability to hit a home run and change the game is throughout their lineup.
Edge: Yankees
Intangibles: what you can not see!
Most teams might be a little overwhelmed by playing at Yankee stadium in the post season. However, the Angels are not they were not phased in Boston when they came from two runs behind to win against one of MLB’s best closers Johnathan Paplebon.
Actually the Angels are the only team in the American League with a winning record over the past nine seasons vs. the Yankees and the Angels were responsible for eliminating the Yankees in the 2005 playoffs. are intimidated by playing New York, but the Angels aren’t one of them. L.A. is the only American League team with a winning record against the Yankees over the past nine seasons, and the Angels eliminated New York from the playoffs in 2005.
While the Angels have the emotion and heart and the will to win this one as they are playing for their SP Nick Adenhart who passed away earlier this season they do not have the advantage with all of the presence the Yankees have including the leadership between Jeter and Mariano Rivera. Yankees have to be excited in the fact that Alex Rodriguez finally got over his post season slumps as he hit .455 with six RBI’s in the first round.
The point is he is no longer the savior in the lineup with Texeira backing him up. Teixera like Abreu will be facing his former team and it should make the match up that much more interesting.
Edge: Yankees
Pick: Yankees in 7 games
I guess it’s time for the Yankees to return to the World Series. It will be an interesting match up when they face off against their former coach Joe Torre if it comes to this. This series will be one of the better ones of all time. I think the Angels are still flying in under the radar and they can certainly steal a game or two in New York which will make this series all that much more interesting. If you are one to play series prices the value is certainly on the Angels side. Especially with the success the Angels have had against Sabathia and in New York.
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