The Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels were expected to fight for playoff spots in 2021. Instead, they are both fighting to finish the season above .500, as both teams are right in the neighborhood of the .500 mark heading into this weekend’s action. On Saturday, the Angels look to get back above .500, while Cleveland looks to get back within one game of the break-even point on the year.
Angels Pitching Struggling Again
Outside of the brilliant Shohei Ohtani this season, the Los Angeles Angels have really struggled with their consistency from a pitching perspective. Over their last two games, the Angels have allowed 19 runs, splitting those two games in a microcosm of their entire season to this point. On Saturday, the Angels will hope that a starter who hasn’t put up the best numbers this season will deliver for the second start in a row.
Reid Detmers is 1-2 with an ERA of over 7.00 on the season, but he was excellent in his last start against the Houston Astros. Against an explosive Houston lineup, Detmers threw six innings of three-hit ball, giving up just one run en route to a Cleveland victory. Against an Angels team that isn’t as dangerous from top to bottom as Houston, Detmers has the potential to deliver another quality start, but the question will be whether he has the consistency to deliver again.
Indians Alternating Wins and Losses
Over their last eight games, the Cleveland Indians have alternated wins and losses, splitting them with a 4-4 record. Over that time frame, they have lost 17-0 to the Oakland Athletics while winning 11-0 and 9-1 as well. It has been that lack of reliable play that has caused Cleveland to play sub-.500 baseball over the course of the 2021 season.
Cleveland won the series opener against the Angels, thanks in large part to a big night from Franmil Reyes. Reyes hit a home run and knocked in five runs to help the Indians build an insurmountable 9-1 advantage. Against Detmers, Reyes and the rest of the Cleveland lineup will likely have plenty of scoring chances again on Saturday.
The Indians will start Triston McKenzie in this game, as he will look to outperform Detmers in the early portions of this contest. McKenzie is 2-5 with a 5.12 ERA on the season, but he has been much better of late. The Cleveland starter hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start during the month of August and will look to keep that trend alive to help Cleveland win a second straight game.
Expect Runs to Be Scored
Both teams are starting subpar pitchers in this game, and neither team has the consistency in their bullpen to follow those pitchers up with anyone too dangerous to the opposing lineup. Here, the over is the best play for this game, as neither team is reliable enough to come away with an outright victory. With a relatively low total of nine, over bettors should get there when all is said and done.
Angels vs. Indians Pick: Over 9 runs
