Twins vs Angels MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
Even though Albert Pujols finished his first month with the Angels without a homer, Anaheim returned from a rough road trip with a 4-3 victory over the equally miserable Minnesota Twins on Monday night in game one of a three games set that will continue on Tuesday.
MIN: F. Liriano (0-3) vs. LAA: Williams (1-1)
Date/Time: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 – 10:05 PM EST
Venue: Angels Stadium, Anaheim, California
Broadcast: Fox Sports North
LINE: LA -160
TOTAL: 8.5
The Twins have fallen to 6-16 on the year, and have won just one series all season, taking two of three when the Angels visited Minneapolis three weeks ago.
However, their opener in Anaheim was far from being good as the a team that was already bleeding received another blow as catcher Joe Mauer missed his first game of the season to rest his sore left knee.
The former MVP and three-time AL batting champion decided to rest after he got hit by a foul tip in the ninth inning of Minnesota’s win over Kansas City on Sunday.
Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire who expects Mauer to play Tuesday, will go with lefty Francisco Liriano on Tuesday. Loraine (0-3) has had a difficult start to the 2012 campaign, posting a miserable 11.02 ERA while walking 13 batters in 16 1/3 innings. He will now face the Angles for the second time this season. He owns a 9.00 ERA in five innings against the Halos back on April 12, allowing seven hits and three walks in a 10-9 loss. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The Angles will counter with fifth starter Jerome Williams (1-1) who pitched seven solid innings in Thursday’s 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay. The right-hander (5.51 ERA) has settled down in his last two starts after a rough season debut on April 15 and has allowed just five runs in his last two starts, which have spanned 13 2/3 innings. He’s also struck out 12 in that span.
Meanwhile the Angles bats have awakened, at least for now, as Torii Hunter homered and drove in three runs, on Monday night, as well as Chris Iannetta who also homered in the Angels’ second victory in eight games, scoring at least four runs for the first time in that stretch.
Albert Pujols had a first-inning double for his first extra-base hit in 11 days.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Anaheim- While the Angles have struggled, Monday’s offensive burst could be the spark that ignites a very powerful Anaheim lineup. Add to that they are playing the worst team in baseball, a starting pitcher who is laboring on the mound, and it all adds up to win for the home team.
