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The Oakland Athletics take on the Los Angeles Angels. Check out our MLB odds series for our Athletics Angels prediction and pick.
Cole Irvin gets the starting assignment for the Athletics, while Patrick Sandoval gets the call for the Angels.
Cole Irvin has a 2.93 ERA. He gave up seven runs over 11 2/3 innings in his first two starts but then settled down and noticeably improved. In his last three starts, Irvin gave up just two runs in 16 innings. Here, however, is an important piece of information for anyone making an Athletics Angels prediction: Irvin hasn't pitched in three weeks. His last appearance was on April 30. The A's wanted to make sure his health was fully restored before bringing him back, but it remains to be seen how effective he will be in this game, since his rhythm from late April has been broken up.
Patrick Sandoval has quietly had a tremendous season for the Angels, becoming one of the unheralded but very important reasons why this team has put itself in position to make a run at the playoffs and the American League West Division championship. Sandoval has a 1.91 ERA. He has not allowed more than three runs in any of his six starts. He has allowed no more than one run in four of his six starts. The Angels' pitching will determine if they make the postseason, and Sandoval's performance is one of the “glue-guy” rotation stories worth monitoring over the course of the year. If he holds up, the Halos' chances of playing in October will go up as measured by the MLB odds. In this game against Oakland, Sandoval becomes a central factor in any Athletics Angels pick you might make.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Athletics-Angels MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Athletics-Angels Odds
Oakland Athletics: +1.5 (-128)
Los Angeles Angels: -1.5 (+106)
Over: 7.5 (-120)
Under: 7.5 (-102)
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Why The Athletics Could Cover the Spread
The A's should feel confident with Cole Irvin on the mound. They know he is healthy again, and they realize that even though he has had a few weeks off, one shouldn't expect the rough sledding Irvin had at the very start of his season, when he clearly wasn't in rhythm. Irvin's last three starts have been a lot better. It's also worth noting that the Angels, though they did win on Saturday, have still lost four of five games and have gone through one of their more difficult periods of the season. Their hitting and their bullpen haven't been as sharp. This is not the same team which was 11 games over .500 at an earlier point in the season. The MLB odds of the Angels making the playoffs have decreased over the past six days.
Why The Angels Could Cover the Spread
After snapping a four-game losing streak on Saturday, the Angels can take the field on Sunday knowing that they have hit the reset button and can resume making a push at the Houston Astros in the American League West. Every team has a lull or a bad patch. The Angels finally hit one this past week, getting swept by the Rangers and then losing the opener of this series on Friday. They still have a loaded batting order, and Cole Irvin's three-week break might leave him rusty for this game.
Also, Patrick Sandoval has earned the Angels' trust. The Halos expect him to do well, and they should. Moreover, Oakland has one of the worst offenses in baseball. Sandoval should be able to contain the A's and set the stage for a Los Angeles victory.
Final Athletics-Angels Prediction & Pick
The Angels have the pitching matchup in their favor. They have broken their losing streak. Oakland struggles to score. This all lines up well for Los Angeles.
Final Athletics-Angels Prediction & Pick: Angels -1.5
