In this article, we will formulate a Rays vs Angels Prediction for this MLB game on Monday, August 4th at the Angel Stadium in the opening game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Los Angeles Angels Preview
The Los Angeles Angels have a 54-58 record this season and are sitting on the 4th place of the AL West. The Angels have a 29-28 home record and 61-49 in over/under They are coming off an 8-5 home victory over the White Sox, which ended their previous three-game losing streak. Over is 6-2 in their last 8 games and are playing the Dodgers and the Tigers next.
The Angels have a .232 batting average this season, .304 OBP and .406 Slugging percentage. LA’s pitching staff has a 4.58 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. Nolan Schanuel leads the Angels with 112 hits, and he is the team’s best hitter with a .279 batting average. Taylor Ward leads the team with 82 RBI and a team-high 26 home runs.
Yusei Kikuchi (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Angels, and he has a 4-7 record, 3.30 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.
Tampa Bay Rays Preview
The Tampa Bay Rays have a 55-58 record this season and are sitting on the 4th place of the AL East. The Rays have a 23-28 road record and are 44-63 in over/under. They are coming off a 0-3 home defeat by the Dodgers, and are 2-8 in their last 10 games. Under is 6-2-1 in their last 9 games and are playing the Mariners and the Athletics next.
The Rays have a .253 batting average this season, .317 OBP and .398 slugging percentage. Tampa’s pitching staff has a 3.86 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Yandy Diaz leads the Rays with 120 hits, while Jonathan Aranda is the team’s best hitter with .316 batting average. Junior Caminero leads the team in RBI, with 72 and in home runs, with 28.
Adrian Houser (R) will take the mound for the Rays, in his first start with his new team, and he has a 6-2 record, 2.10 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.
Why the Los Angeles Angels will win
- The Rays have lost 10 of their last 11 road games.
- The Angels have won each of their last six Monday games against American League opponents.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 11 Monday games against AL West opponents.
- The Angels have covered the run line in each of their last seven games against the Rays.
- The Rays have trailed after 3 innings in four of their last five games at Angel Stadium of Anaheim against AL West opponents that held a losing record.
- The Angels have led after 5 innings in three of their last four night games against the Rays.
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Adrian Houser Record this season: 6-2 ERA: 2.10
- Road Record: 1-2
- Last 5 against Angels: –
Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win
- The Rays have won each of their last six games against the Angels following a home loss.
- The Angels have lost eight of their last 10 games as favorites against AL East opponents following a win.
- The road team has covered the run line in each of the last nine games between the Rays and Angels.
- The Angels have failed to cover the run line in nine of their last 10 games as favorites against AL East opponents following a win.
- The Angels have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last five games as favorites against AL East opponents.
- The Angels have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
Total Runs Facts
- Nine of the Angels’ last 10 games against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Five of the Rays’ last six games as underdogs against the Angels have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Rays’ last five games as underdogs against AL West opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in five of the Angels’ last six night games.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Angels rank 30th in the league for strikeouts against this season (1083).
- The Angels rank 30th in the league for walks allowed this season (424).
- The Rays rank 1st in the league for steals this season (145).
- The Rays are one of only five teams in the league to rank top 10 in both steals and batting average this season.
Rays vs Angels Prediction
Both teams are tied 5-5 wins in their last 10 overall meetings, but the Angels have won their only previous series this season in Tampa by 2-1 wins. Over is 5-2 in their last 7 meetings.
In this Rays vs Angels Prediction, the Angels are coming as -125 home favorites. Both teams have almost identical overall record, but the Angels have been average at home, and the Rays below average on the road. Houser has been perhaps the best White Sox pitcher, and he is in excellent form, with a 1.91 ERA across his last five starts. Kikuchi has been great at home for the Angels with a 2.48 home ERA, and the Rays are terrible against left-handed pitching. I expect both pitchers to keep the bats in check and make this a lower-scoring game. Take the under 8.5 runs in this one.