The Los Angeles Angels take on the Philadelphia Phillies. Check out our MLB odds series for our Angels Phillies prediction and pick.
Michael Lorenzen goes to the mound for the Angels, while Zack Wheeler takes the bump for the Phillies.
Michael Lorenzen has a 3.19 ERA. He is one of several pitchers who quietly performed above expectations in the first month and a half of the season, enabling the Angels to be 10 games over .500 for more than a week in the month of May. It's true that the Angels are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, but Lorenzen has not been the problem for the Halos. Lorenzen has allowed four runs in his last 19 2/3 innings in his last three starts. Only two of Lorenzen's eight starts this year have been poor. His most recent sluggigh outing was a five-run, 4 2/3-inning appearance against the Nationals back on May 7, four weeks ago. Lorenzen is a reason to pick Los Angeles when making an Angels Phillies prediction based on the current MLB odds.
Zack Wheeler has a 3.16 ERA, but that is based on two bad performances in the second half of April. Wheeler gave up 11 runs in eight innings in those two starts. His ERA in that pair of starts was over 12. His ERA after the second bad start in that sequence, on April 23, was 8.53. Since then, he has shaved more than 5.3 runs off his ERA. He is now pitching like the ace the Phils hoped he would be. Wheeler has given up just eight runs in his last six starts over 38 2/3 innings. He has allowed only one home run in those six games. He has walked only five hitters in his last five starts over 32 2/3 innings. He is dealing, and he is obviously a great reason to go with Philadelphia in an Angels Phillies pick.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Angels-Phillies MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Angels-Phillies Odds
Los Angeles Angels: +1.5 (-125)
Philadelphia Phillies: -1.5 (+104)
Over: 8 (-115)
Under: 8 (-105)
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Why The Angels Could Cover the Spread
The Angels have lost nine in a row. They might not be a good team. Their start to the season might have left them overrated. Yet, even the worst teams will win some games. A 10-game losing streak is highly improbable, even if a team is playing terrible baseball. Michael Lorenzen is a solid starting pitcher who will give the Halos a chance to compete in this game after the blowout loss on Friday night. Also, the Phillies' bullpen is a disaster. As long as this game is tied or just a one-run game heading into the seventh inning, the Angels have to like their chances here.
Why The Phillies Could Cover the Spread
The Angels have been exposed as a mediocre team. Their bullpen and pitching depth were always question marks, and as soon as Mike Trout and other hitters began slumping, the roof caved in. The Halos have lost nine straight. They look aimless at the plate. Moreover, Philadelphia looked revitalized on Friday in the first game after Joe Girardi was fired as manager. A new voice and a fresh environment in the clubhouse perked up the Phillies, who crushed the Angels. Now the Phils get to send Zack Wheeler to the mound. This is a game which sets up well for them.
Final Angels-Phillies Prediction & Pick
Zack Wheeler is performing well. The Angels are not. You don't need to make this pick any more complicated than it needs to be.
Final Angels-Phillies Prediction & Pick: Phillies -1.5
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