After splitting two games in Anaheim, the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants switch venues for another two-game series starting Wednesday. The Angels send young LHP Patrick Sandoval (0-2, 3.94) against Giants veteran RHP Johnny Cueto (1-0, 4.62). The first pitch at Oracle Park is set for 9:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
The Giants and Angels have played 33 regular-season games in their history, and San Francisco leads 20-13, including a 6-2 mark since 2015. They also met in the 2002 World Series with the Angels claiming their lone championship after winning games six and seven at home.
Los Angeles Angels Outlook: Get to Cueto
The Angels have dropped five-of-six as they head to San Francisco in fourth place in the AL West. So far, they have done little to help Mike Trout leads MLB with ten homers while batting .291/.356/.684. Only OF Brian Goodwin and infielders Tommy La Stella and David Fletcher are batting over .255 among the other Angels regulars.
Joe Maddon’s squad has seen newcomer Anthony Rendon get going in the last week as the third baseman is batting .254/.438/.567 with six homers. But the other big names are struggling. Justin Upton is batting .100, DH Shohei Ohtani is batting .191 with four homers, and Albert Pujols bats .206 with three homers.
Sandoval has tossed six innings in each of his last two starts but is winless on the season. Last time out, he allowed five runs on six hits while striking out five in a loss to the Dodgers. The only batter on the Giants he has ever faced is Hunter Pence, who is 0-for-2 against Sandoval.
San Francisco Giants Outlook: Relief Work
The last place Giants are 9-16, the second-worst record in the National League and their -38 run differential is the worst in the NL. The bright spots have been youngsters OF Mike Yastrzemski batting .311/.436/.656 with a team-high six homers, OF Austin Slater hitting .317/.329/.585 and 2B Donovan Solano batting .392/.430/.544. The Giants need to find a way to get veterans 1B Brandon Belt and 3B Evan Longoria going as both are batting below .235 and have a combined 15 RBI in 116 at-bats.
The bullpen has been horrendous with a league-worst 6.49 ERA and six blown saves, including three in the last week. Closer Trevor Goff has a 14.73 ERA in nine appearances with two losses, two blown saves, and more walks than strikeouts. Fellow relievers Tyler Rogers, Rico Garcia, and Wandy Peralta have combined for 27 2/3 innings with ERA’s over 7.50 and five losses.
Cueto has been fantastic in his last two outings as he worked on a no-hitter until late against the LA Dodgers and then allowed two runs over seven innings against Oakland. Albert Pujols has a homer against Cueto while Anthony Rendon is 1-for-3, but the veteran has retired Trout in all six at-bats.
Los Angeles Angels at San Francisco Giants Betting Lines
Los Angeles Angels to win: -135
San Francisco Giants to win: +125
Over/Under: 8.5 runs (O -110, U -105)
The Giants have the better starting pitcher in this one, but the Angels have better offenses and more talent. Look for the bats to get going on both sides, especially once the bullpens are into the game.
FREE PICK: Over 8.5 runs (-110)
