Diamondbacks vs Angels MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
After taking two of three games in their Freeway series with the Dodgers earlier in the week, the Los Angeles Angels will make the short trip back to Anaheim Stadium, where they will open a three-game set against an Arizona Diamondbacks’ team that has been enormously inconsistent in putting runs on the scoreboard.
ARI: Trevor Cahill (4-5, 3.36 ERA) v LAA: Dan Haren (4-6, 3.73 ERA)
Date/Time: Friday, June 15, 2012, 10:05 PM ET
Venue: Angles Stadium in Anaheim California
Broadcast: FOX Sports Southwest (Arizona), FOX Sports West (Los Angeles)
Line: Los Angeles -162, Arizona 152
Over/Under: 7
Arriving in Anaheim, the D’backs have lost two of their last three, and in those two losses plated just two runners, before racking up 11 runs on 14 hits in their three-game series finale in Texas on Thursday.
During the month of June , Arizona has been shut out and have been held to less than one run in four games, but have also scored six or more runs six times.
With that kind of unpredictability, you just don’t know what you’re going to get night after night.
And it’s not likely to get any better against an Angles pitching squad that is riding high after holding a very good Dodgers lineup to just eight runs across three games, including just a single run in the rubber match on Wednesday.
Also, for the moment, the Halos bats have gotten busy, especially for heavy-hitting 20-year old rookie outfielder Mike Trout. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Trout has emerged as a rising star since his promotion in late April, filling the Angels’ need for a leadoff hitter with a .341 batting average, .401 on-base percentage, 35 runs scored and 16 stolen bases.
He will definitely pose a challenge to Arizona starting pitcher Trevor Cahill (4-5), who is set to take the mound in the in Game 1.
The 24-year righty from Oceanside Ca. was charged with two runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings during the Diamondbacks’ 8-3 win over Oakland in an interleague contest on Saturday night.
Cahill tallied a season-high seven strikeouts and walked three batters as he posted back-to-back wins for the first time this year.
He is 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA in seven road starts this season, but has yet to face the Angles.
He will hope his teammates will find a way to provide the level of run support they did in Texas on Thursday, but that won’t be easy, as the Angles send wily veteran Dan Haren to the hill.
The 31-year old Pepperdine product has only one appearance versus Arizona, and that was back in 2004. That outing did end with a win, as the righty pitched 2.2 innings giving up two hits and no runs while fanning one.
Haren however, has not been overly impressive so far this season, and is 1-4 with a 3.65 ERA in seven home starts this season.
He was able to pick up his fourth win of the season during Saturday’s contest against the Rockies. Haren, who was making his 13th start of the year, allowed four runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings in the 11-5 win.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Angles– Winners of 8-of-12 June contests, the Angles are surging at the right time. The Diamondbacks are just too unpredictable. And although Haren has been far from perfect, it is likely he won’ have to.
