Giants vs Angels MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
After falling short of making the postseason two consecutive seasons, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim went on a giant free-agent spending spree. So far, it hasn’t paid huge dividends.
SFO: Ryan Vogelsong (6-2, 2.29 ERA) v LAA: Jared Weaver (6-1, 2.61 ERA)
Date/Time: Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 10:05 PM ET
Venue: Angles Stadium in Anaheim California
Broadcast: CSN (Bay Area), FOX Sports West (Los Angeles)
Line: Angels -150
Over/Under: 7
The team will now look to close out their series on Wednesday with the visiting San Francisco Giants on an upswing, as they look to lock in on the division-leading, and two-time defending AL champion Texas Rangers.
The Halos are nearly a half dozen games back of the Rangers in the West, while the Giants are still chasing the Dodgers in the NL West.
Mark Trumbo continued his stellar season by blasting his team-leading 16th homer on Monday, although the Angels Los Angeles fell in the series opener.
The Halos did get some good news however, as ace Jered Weaver is set to come off the 15-day disabled list and rejoin the rotation on Wednesday. Weaver had been sidelined with a back strain.
The 29-year-old right-hander has not faced the Giants in his career.
Meanwhile, San Francisco’s Ryan Vogelsong will aim to slow down the Halos’ Trumbo and company, while trying to notch back-to-back wins following his sixth straight victory in Friday’s series opener against the Mariners. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The 34-year-old righty allowed just two runs on four hits over seven-plus innings of work in the 4-2 win.
Vogelsong has gone 6-0 with a 1.76 ERA in his last eight starts, and has been very consistent since the middle of May. After a breakout 2011, he is on pace to match — if not surpass — his numbers of a year ago.
The Giants and Angels rivalry goes back to the 2002 World Series, and is almost as bitter as the Dodgers v San Francisco. So tightly contested games can be expected.
The Angels had won four straight against the Giants, including a three-game sweep June 15-17, 2009, before Monday’s loss.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Angels– Anaheim could pull this off if Weaver, who is expected to be on an 80-90 pitch limit for his first outing after returning, can go at least seven innings. I expect that to happen as the Halos get a timely knock from a big bat in the closing frames.
