Subscribe
Follow Us
Two American League squads located on opposite coasts will go head-to-head as the Los Angeles Angels take on the surging Baltimore Orioles. Join us for our MLB odds series, where our Angels-Orioles prediction and pick will be revealed.
At 38-45, the Angels enter play this Thursday after snapping a four-game losing streak in a 5-2 victory over the Marlins. With a losing record at 17-22 on the road, starting pitcher Chase Silseth will attempt to turn his season around after going 1-2 with a 5.23 ERA in five games started.
Don't look now, but the Orioles are going streaking! Could it be possible that Baltimore is the better team? While this upcoming series between these two teams may end up answering that question, there's no denying that the O's have been playing some stellar baseball. Looking to extend his team's home winning streak will be righty Jordan Lyles and his 4-7 record with his 4.70 ERA.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Angels-Orioles MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Angels-Orioles Odds
Los Angeles Angels: -1.5 (+152)
Baltimore Orioles: +1.5 (-184)
Over: 8.5 (-120)
Under: 8.5 (-102)
*Watch MLB Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)
Why The Angels Could Cover the Spread
Obviously, the Angels are in the midst of a downward spiral. While LA took a step in the right direction after beating Miami on Wednesday, it was do-it-all superstar Shohei Ohtani that pitched seven dominant innings from the mound to continue his MVP-caliber season. The problem for the Angels in 2022 is that wins are hard to come by whenever Ohtani isn't in line for the start, as starters are not nearly having the same type of success when they step out on the rubber. At the halfway mark of the long and grueling 162-game season, the Angels must start stringing together some wins before it is too late.
Regardless of some sloppy baseball being played in Anaheim, Los Angeles' pitching staff still currently possesses a 3.89 ERA and has been responsible for some quality starts throughout the first 83 games of the campaign. The Angels are also only allowing the opposition to slash a .235 batting average, which is the tenth-best mark in the majors. While Silseth has never faced off with the Orioles in his young career, the 22-year-old could end up being a major difference-maker if the Angels could cover the spread this evening.
Surprisingly, it has been the bats on this roster that have barely shown signs of life as we sit here during the month of July. With the amount of superstar quality hitters throughout this clubhouse, it has been a head-scratcher on why LA has struggled finding production at the plate. During this rollercoaster ride of a season for the Angels, they rank only 24th in runs scored, 25th in opposing batting average, and 24th in on-base percentage. Simply put, this lackluster unit simply needs to step up if they want to come out victorious.
Why The Orioles Could Cover the Spread
The dog days of the summer have officially arrived, and the Orioles couldn't be soaring as high and carefree as they are right now. While their 39-44 record says otherwise, Baltimore has rebounded nicely by reeling off four straight after losing the same amount in a row just a few short days ago. During this much-needed victory streak, the O's have showcased a tremendous balance at the dish and on the mound.
Offensively, the Orioles have generated 22 runs over their past four games and have slowly but surely climbed their way out of the cellar in comparison to the rest of the lesser teams in the league when it comes to their offensive statistics. Even more impressive, Baltimore has exploded for 17 runs in their previous two matchups. Still ranked 21st total in runs scored on the season, Baltimore has been led by a slew of hitters including names like DH Trey Mancini, right-fielder Anthony Santander, and left-fielder Austin Hays to name a few.
Similarly ranked statistically to the offense, the pitching arms on this team are capable of giving the Orioles a tremendous chance to cover spreads in each game they play. With an above-average 4,03 ERA on the year, many consider this Baltimore pitching staff to be vastly underrated and often overlooked by experts within the sport. No doubt, the key in this game for the O's will be whether or not Jordan Lyles will be able to pitch deep into this one and give the bullpen some much-needed rest. If he can accomplish this task, then the Orioles will have a great chance to extend their home winning streak to six games.
Final Angels-Orioles Prediction & Pick
Both of these teams are clinging on to life support as they fight their way back to the .500 mark. Wild Card spots are still up for grabs, and a win against a team that has a similar record as you will go a long way when it comes to playoff implications. At the end of the day, the youngster in Hilseth will be hard to trust against a blistering orioles squad, as the veteran presence of Lyles and the bats throughout the O's lineup should get the job done on Thursday.
Final Angels-Orioles Prediction & Pick: Orioles +1.5 (-184)
