New York Mets at Los Angeles Angels Betting Preview
After splitting the first two games of the series, the New York Mets (39-22) and Los Angeles Angels (29-32) will square off in a rubber match of their three-game series Sunday night. Los Angeles will host this one at Angel Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:08 pm ET.
After dropping the first game, the Angels bounced back with a 11-6 win on Saturday. Michael Lorenzen picked up the win after going 6.1 innings, allowing one earned run on six hits with four strikeouts.
Offensively, superstars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani had big nights for L.A. They combined for six hits, three home runs, six runs batted in, and six runs scored.
Jared Walsh also had a huge night as he hit for the cycle. He ended up four for five with three runs batted in.
For the Mets, Carlos Carrasco was roughed up Saturday. In 4.2 innings, he gave up five runs on nine hits and one walk. He did strike out seven in the loss.
The Mets’ offense managed ten hits and scored six runs, but they left 24 runners stranded on base. Pete Alonso and Khalil Lee hit homers for the Mets.
Sunday’s game is a bit of a pick’em game. Both teams’ moneylines sit at -110, although the Angels are +1.5 (-188) on the runline. The over/under for total runs is 8.5.
Mets Try To Bounce Back After Rough Game
Despite their rough game on Saturday, the Mets still sit with the best record in the National League at 39-22. Currently, up 5.5 games in the NL East, they will try to improve on their 20-14 road record as they play at Angel Stadium Sunday night.
Taking the mound for the Mets in the finale will be righty Taijuan Walker. He is 3-2 in nine games with a 3.28 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, and he has 25 strikeouts in 46.2 innings.
Walker does come into this game having lost back-to-back games. In his last start, he lost to the Padres after giving up four runs on five hits in six innings of work. He will look to get back into the win column Sunday night.
Offensively, first baseman Pete Alonso continues to deliver in the power department. In 225 at bats, he is hitting .280/.358/.547 with a team-leading 17 home runs and 55 runs batted in.
As a team, the Mets rank second in the majors in scoring. They are averaging 5.10 runs per game (4.88 on the road).
Angels Trying To Chip Away At Division Deficit
The Angels got off to a red hot start this season, but after a 14-game losing streak, the Angels have plummeted in the AL West standings. Currently eight games behind the Houston Astros, the Angels know every series is important, especially when they can pick up a series win at home.
Trying to win the rubber match and series Sunday will be lefty Patrick Sandoval. In nine games this season, Sandoval is 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, and he has 46 strikeouts in 48 innings of work.
Sandoval has no-decisions in back-to-back starts. In those no-decisions, he has struggled to go deep in games as he has given up seven runs on nine hits in 7.2 innings in his last two starts combined.
Offensively, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani showed Saturday why they are two of the most feared hitters in baseball.
This season, Trout is hitting .294/.394/.642 with 16 home runs, 33 runs batted in, and 42 runs in 187 at bats. Not to be outdone, Ohtani is hitting .255/.331/.476 with 13 home runs, 37 runs batted in, 41 runs, and seven stolen bases.
Both of these two have had success against Taijuan Walker in their careers, too. While Ohtani has a home run in his lone at bat against Walker, Trout is hitting .625 in 16 at bats against the righty with three home runs and six runs batted in.
Take Angels On Runline
Both Taijuan Walker and Patrick Sandoval have the ability to shut down an opponent, but they have also shown vulnerabilities this season. Neither have pitched well recently, which could lead to the over 8.5 runs being an interesting bet.
Of the two, though, the Angels’ hitters have a better track record against Walker. With Trout and Ohtani heating up, they could continue their domination of the righty Sunday night.
This is truly one that could go either way and for that reason, taking the runline might be the best play. In this case, that means taking the Angels +1.5 (-188).