MLB Betting – Angels vs Blue Jays Preview & Pick
I have to admit – I didn’t expect the Angels to still be contending for the American League West crown this late in the 2011 season.
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MLB Betting – Angels vs. Blue Jays Preview & Pick
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2011
Venue: Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Broadcast: FSW, RSN
Los Angeles Angels at Toronto Blue Jays Betting Lines from Bodog.com
Money Line: Angels -130
Over/Under: 7
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Los Angeles Angels (64-54 through August 11)
Jered Weaver (14-5, 1.78)
I didn’t think they had the hitting to stay in the hunt. For the most part, I was right; they’re the 24th-highest scoring team in baseball. But the top of their rotation has been so dominant that it hasn’t mattered.
How crazy is it that Weaver’s insane numbers (above) don’t even guarantee him a Cy Young? That’s Justin Verlander and C.C. Sabathia’s fault. Weaver’s earned runs over his last 10 starts: 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0, 1, 3, 0. Insanity.
He threw a complete-game shutout against Seattle his last time out and will return from his six-game suspension to start Saturday.
Weaver hasn’t had a great offense behind him but rookie Mark Trumbo has shown pop reminiscent of a young Troy Glaus. If only Vernon Wells could learn from him.
The $23-million man is batting .171 this month as he returns to face the team that gleefully traded him. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Toronto Blue Jays (59-58 through August 11)
Ricky Romero (10-9, 2.94)
Sign stealing aside, the Jays can be reasonably proud about playing above .500 this year as a very young team sharing a division with the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays. More and more pieces are falling into place for a future contender. Ricky Romero’s ceiling looked like that of a No. 2 starter but the former first-rounder has emerged as a No. 1 this season. Eight quality stats in his last 10 tries show a lot of maturity and consistency.
A Jay to watch this weekend: rookie Brett Lawrie, hyped as the franchise’s next big offensive star. So far, so good; the kid is batting .333 with two homers and six RBI in his first six big-league games.
MLB Trends
Under is 7-2-2 in Weavers last 11 Sat. starts.
Under is 18-6-2 in Weavers last 26 road starts.
TOR are 6-2 in their last 8 games following a loss.
TOR are 6-2 in Romeros last 8 starts on astroturf.
TOR are 2-6 in Romeros last 8 Sat. starts.
LAA are 9-4 in the last 13 meetings.
Under is 49-22-6 in the last 77 meetings.
MLB Free pick:
As promising as Romero, Lawrie and the other young Jays look, history has taught us not to bet against the Angels when Jered Weaver faces Toronto.
In eight career starts against the Jays, he’s 7-1 with a 2.68 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 53.2 innings. That’s reason enough for me to pick L.A. on Saturday.
Offense should be hard to come by in this battle of aces.
Angels vs Blue Jays prediction: Angels 3, Blue Jays 2
