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The Los Angeles Angels try for their seventh win in a row as they meet the Chicago White Sox in a showdown on the Southside. It's time to continue our MLB odds series with an Angels-White Sox prediction and pick.
The Angels defeated the White Sox 5-1 in a muggy opener in Chicago. Taylor Ward got the Angels off to a great start when he drove an 0-1 pitch into the seats in left field to put the Angels up 1-0. It was his fifth home run, which ties him for the team lead with Mike Trout. Two batters later, Shohei Ohtani ripped an opposite-field bomb on a near-perfect swing to put the Angels up 2-0. The White Sox cut the deficit to 2-1 in their half, and it remained that way until the sixth inning. Anthony Rendon slugged an RBI double to drive in Ohtani and make it 3-1 Angels.
Next, Jared Walsh came to the plate in the eighth and bobbed an RBI double to right to drive in Ohtani. It was the third run of the day for Ohtani, and the Halos led 4-1. The Angels tacked on one more to win the game decisively. Noah Syndergaard was originally scheduled to start but missed the start due to an undisclosed illness. Instead, the Angels relied on seven relievers to get the job done. There is heavy rain scheduled for Saturday's game, but Syndergaard could be available to pitch on Sunday if the game gets moved back a day.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Angels-White Sox odds:
MLB Odds: Angels-White Sox Odds
Angels: +1.5 (-210)
White Sox: -1.5 (+172)
Over: 9 (-104)
Under: 9 (-118)
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Why the Angels Could Cover The Spread
The Angels are the hottest team in baseball, having won six games in a row. Now, they looked to make it seven as they face the White Sox. Jose Suarez is scheduled to take the mound and is searching for his first victory.
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Suarez is 0-1 with a 5.54 ERA in 2022. He struggled in his previous start as he allowed three earned runs on four hits through 4 1/3 innings of work. Thus, Suarez hopes to rebound and claim that elusive first win. He has plenty of run support as the Angels rank first in the majors in runs scored. Additionally, the Angels are third in batting average, third in on-base percentage, first in slugging percentage, and fourth in home runs. Ward and Trout have powered the Angels, and Ohtani has heated up since an early-season slump. Consequently, the Angels are scoring runs in several different ways, illuminating their ability to adapt.
The Angels will cover the spread if Suarez can give them a quality start. In addition, the Angels must continue to make contact and hit the ball to all sides of the field. Ward is hot right now, as he is batting 10 for 21 over five games with four home runs. Additionally, Trout has had an excellent week as he is hitting 8 for 20 with one home run and five RBIs during the six-game winning streak.
Why The White Sox Could Cover The Spread
Chicago has one of the most talented rosters in the majors. However, the Sox are struggling to get the job done offensively, as they have scored more than three runs once over four games and twice over a 10-game span. Pitching has been a better story for the most part. Vince Velasquez takes the start for the Sox.
Velasquez is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 2022. Consequently, he struggled in his last start as he allowed five earned runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. Now, Velasquez hopes to rebound but must face a red-hot Angels lineup. His problem has been his inability to keep the ball in the park, as he gave up two home runs in his previous outing. Velasquez must cut down on walks, which puts him into trouble early in the game. However, Velasquez has some help in the form of his lineup. Jose Abreu and Yasmani Grandal are two of their better hitters.
Ultimately, neither hitter is achieving their goals as Abreu is batting .212 and Grandal is hitting .161. The White Sox rank 27th in runs scored and batting average. Additionally, the Sox are not winning games early on as they are 7-12 and in fourth place in the AL Central. But Chicago has shown resilience in the past and is still capable of striking at any given moment.
The Sox will cover the spread if they can get a quality start from Velasquez. Also, the bats need to awaken and show why many people picked the White Sox to win the AL Central.
Final Angels-White Sox Prediction & Pick
The Angels are on fire right now, and the White Sox are cold as ice. The line looks wonky, and the Angels do not bring much value in coverage. However, Velasquez's pitching continues to be an issue. The Angels have the better squad now and will likely win this match, assuming the game prevails without interruption.
Final Angels-White Sox Prediction & Pick: Angels Moneyline (+108)
