The Los Angeles Angels and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Monday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. Here’s an Angels vs Rays prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game. We will examine:
- The Los Angeles Angels recent form and player performance
- The Tampa Bay Rays recent form and player performance
- Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Los Angeles Angels
- Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Tampa Bay Rays
- Recent betting trends in games played between the Angels and Rays
- A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Angels vs Rays game
Los Angeles Angels Betting Preview
Over the weekend, the Angels took on the Boston Red Sox. Los Angeles won 7-0 in the opener then fell 7-2 in game two. In the Sunday rubber match, the Angels dropped the series with a 5-4 defeat. Starter Tyler Anderson finished with 4.1 innings, three earned, four hits and three walks in the loss.
As starting pitcher for the Monday matchup, the Angels will send out Patrick Sandoval. In his three starts this year Sandoval is 1-2 with a 6.57 ERA and 15 Ks in 12.1 innings. Sandoval has a career record of 18-39 with a 3.90 ERA in 94 games (87 starts).
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Preview
Over on the Rays’ side, they beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1 in their weekend opener before an 11-2 game two loss. On Sunday, in the finale, Tampa Bay posted 10 team hits on the way to a 9-4 victory. Rene Pinto posted a pair of homers in the win, tallying four RBI. Isaac Paredes and Amed Rosario each homered with two RBI apiece as well.
In the starter slot for the Rays on Monday, it’ll be Zach Eflin. This year, Eflin is 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA in three starts. He’s got 15 strikeouts in 17.0 innings. Eflin has a career mark of 53-55 with a 4.32 ERA in 161 games (149 starts).
Tampa Bay Rays Team Facts
- The underdogs have won each of the Rays’ last four games at Tropicana Field.
- The Rays have failed to cover the run line each of their last seven Monday games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last six games between the Angels and Rays.
- The Rays have lost the first inning in three of their last four games as favorites.
- The Rays have trailed after 7 innings in six of their last seven games as home favorites against AL West opponents.
Los Angeles Angels Team Facts
- The Angels have won five of their last six games as road underdogs.
- The Angels have covered the run line in each of their last six games as road underdogs.
- The Angels have led after 5 innings in three of their last four games as road underdogs.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Angels’ last nine road games against AL East opponents.
- The Angels have won the first inning in each of their last three night games against AL East opponents.
Angels vs Rays Prediction
I’ll take a stab on the Angels. Both pitchers could use a good showing, though. Sandoval is coming off a loss versus the Rays on April 9, giving up four earned on six hits and three walks in 5.0 innings of work. As for Eflin, he gave up five earned on nine hits in 5.0 innings during his last start versus the Angels on April 8.
Los Angeles took a tough loss in the Sunday finale versus Boston, but the good news is the offense didn’t perform too badly. Seven different players had hits, however the pitching staff has now given up 12 combined runs over the last two games. Provided Sandoval can bounce back Monday the Angels should be in a good spot.