LA vs Tampa Bay MLB Betting Preview
No team has been more of a disappointment so far this season than the Los Angeles Angels. They poured tons of money into Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson and the team has started out 6-11 through 17 games. Tampa Bay is 5-1 at home so far in 2012.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Tampa Bay Rays MLB Betting Preview
Starting Pitchers: Los Angeles (Wilson) vs. Tampa Bay (Hellickson)
Date/Time: April 25, 7:10 p.m. EST
MLB Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Moneyline: Angels (-120) Rays (+100)
Runline: Angels -1.5 (+140) Rays +1.5 (-160)
Total: 7.5
The Rays won the series opener last night behind a gem from David Price.
This is a terrific pitching matchup for game two of this series.
C.J. Wilson was the big pitching acquisition of the offseason. Even though the Angels have started slowly, it hasn’t been Wilson’s fault at all. He has allowed a total of five earned runs in 19 innings.
The Angels have won two of Wilson’s three starts, and Los Angeles needs a big start from him here to help them get back on track.
Albert Pujols has started the season with a long home run slump. He has gone 69 at-bats without hitting a home run. In addition, he has now gone hitless in his last 16 at-bats. It hasn’t been just Pujols that is slumping though.
Torii Hunter has the best batting average on the team, and he is hitting just .279. Over time you have to assume this offense will pick up the production. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Jeremy Hellickson pitched a shutout against the Yankees in his first start of the year. Hellickson struggled a bit through the last two games at Toronto and Boston. He is a very young talented pitcher who has pitched great at home in his short career.
Tampa Bay has benefited from a red hot start from Carlos Pena this year. Pena has an on-base-percentage of .440. Evan Longoria is hitting .339 and Matt Joyce is hitting .309. Tampa Bay is fourth in the majors with 23 home runs so far in 2012.
The Rays offense has actually been better than expected thus far.
This should be a pitching duel. Wilson and Hellickson can both be extremely dominant. The Rays are 8-2 in Hellickson’s last 10 home starts. At even money, the Rays look like a solid value.
MLB Free Pick: Rays ML
