The Texas Rangers were able to get a 2-0 series opening win against Shohei Ohtani on Thursday and then exploited the Los Angeles Angels bullpen for five runs in the top of the ninth inning on Friday for a 7-2 victory. Now Texas will look for their third straight against the struggling Angels but with +100 even money odds.
Despite dropping the first two games of this series by a combined 9-2 margin, Los Angeles goes off at -118 for game three. The Angels are just 5-17 this month and are 7-21 in their last 28 home games so backing them here takes some guts.
Rangers Offense Finally Comes Alive
Texas had scored four runs through the first 17 innings of this series before scoring five runs in the ninth – even when they had two outs and nobody on base. Martin Perez was dazzling on the mound with 7.0 IP of three hit ball to earn his ninth consecutive win.
Spencer Howard was solid on the mound in the opener too, throwing five innings and allowing no runs. The Angels offense is nothing impressive, especially with Mike Trout injured, but they were coming off two wins over the Royals by a combined 10-0 as well as a 9-1 win over Atlanta last Sunday.
Now it’s Glenn Otto’s (4-7, 5.37 ERA) turn to try and shut down these Los Angeles bats. Otto makes his last start of what has been a tough month, as he’s 0-4 with a 5.47 ERA in July.
Why Are Angels Favored?
Los Angeles had been playing slightly better coming into this series, they took two of three from Kansas City and salvaged one against the defending world champion Braves – all on the road. The Angels were -222 favorites with Ohtani on the mound Thursday and burned up a -103 line in Friday’s loss so they don’t instill a lot of confidence to back the -118 in game three.
The Angels have a whopping nine hits so far through two games this series – and Luis Rengifo has five of them. This is the #25 scoring offense in MLB and they are playing like it as of late.
Chase Silseth (1-3, 5.94 ERA) starts on Saturday likely not expecting a whole lot of run support. He’s making his first big league appearance since July 7th, spending the last couple weeks with the Rocket City Trash Pandas in Double A.
Rangers vs Angels Pick and Prediction
This line definitely jumps out as a trap with the Rangers even money (+100) despite taking the first two games of the series. Texas was a huge +200 underdog on Thursday which is understandable in a Shohei Ohtani start, but what did oddsmakers see to make the Rangers -105 on Friday even though Perez had won eight straight games?
There’s not one trend that likes Los Angeles in this matchup. They have lost 11 of their last 40 vs. RH starters, are 7-21 their last 28 home games, have dropped seven of eight against the AL West, and for good measure have dropped five straight Saturday contests.
Throw in the fact that the Angels are starting a pitcher just returning from Double A ball and the Rangers have to be the play, even if they are a trap. An even money trap is much easier to take than spending -118 on a very, very, bad Angels squad.
Pick: Rangers +100
