Tampa Bay vs L.A. MLB Betting Preview
The Angels are 4 games back of the Texas Rangers in the AL West and they currently lead the Wild Card standings and they improved their playoff chances by trading for starting pitcher Zack Greinke.
Venue/ Stadium: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
Time/Date: 9:05 PM EST Saturday, July 28, 2012
MLB Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: Rays +150 / Angels -170
Over/Under: 7.5 runs
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Matt Moore (6-7, 4.23 ERA) vs. Angels LH C.J. Wilson (9-6, 2.89)
Tampa Bay Rays vs. L.A. Angels Preview
The Rays are, pretty much, out of the AL East picture with the Yankees running away with the division, but they are 3.5 games out of the Wild Card lead. MLB lines have the Angels as home favorites with a total of 7.5 runs.
In yesterday’s game between these 2 teams the Angels won 3-1.
This season the Rays have an O/U record of 39-56 with a run-line W/L record of 41-59 and the Angels have an O/U record of 43-54 with a run-line W/L record of 52-48.
On the season the Angels are 30-20 at home and the Rays are 23-24 on the road.
The Angels have won 40 of their last 55 home games facing the Rays.
Matt Moore (6-7, 4.23 ERA) takes the hill for the Rays tonight and he had a solid last start, but still took a loss facing the Mariners only giving up 2 earned runs in 8 innings. C.J. Wilson (9-6, 2.89 ERA) goes for the Angels and in his last outing he went 6 innings and gave up 3 earned runs in a no decision against the Royals. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
After being dominant for most of the season Wilson is 0-2 with a 4.55 ERA over his last 5 starts. However, he is 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA over 5 career starts against the Rays.
Moore only has 1 career starts facing the Angels and while he has had major issues with walks this season in his last start he did not issue any.
Moore will have to deal with a hot Angels’ offense that ranks 8th in the Majors in runs scored and 3rd in team batting average. He may have to pitch well tonight since Tampa Bay only ranks 19th in runs scored and 28th in team batting average.
The Angels’ middle of the lineup is a killer one, as Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo, and Albert Pujols have combined for 62 HR with each having at least 16 long balls.
In some betting trends for this AL match up the Rays are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter, 1-6 in Moore’s last 7 road starts, and they have an Under record of 7-1 in their last 8 games.
The Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 home games, 5-2 in Wilson’s last 7 home starts, and they have an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 games as a home favorite.
Jason’s Pick: Even though Wilson has had his issues in his last few starts I have to go with the Angels at home in this game, as I think their offense will tag Moore up.
