The Los Angeles Angels take on the Boston Red Sox. Check out our MLB odds series for our Angels-Red Sox prediction and pick.
The pitching matchup for this game is Reid Detmers for the Angels against Garrett Whitlock for the Red Sox. When you make your Angels Red Sox prediction, start with this fundamental aspect of Wednesday’s game in Fenway Park.
Detmers has a 5.19 ERA, but he has been noticeably better in his last two starts. Detmers gave up seven runs in his first two starts but just three in his two more recent outings. He has never pitched more than five full innings this season, but he didn’t get more than 12 outs in either of his first two performances.
Whitlock has been used to varying degrees by Boston manager Alex Cora. He has six appearances so far this season, two of them four-inning stints and three of no more than 2 1/3 innings. He also has a three-inning appearance. This figures to be a bullpen game for Boston, but Whitlock’s 0.54 ERA gives the home team a good chance of keeping the Angels’ bats quiet in the first three innings. Whitlock has struck out 20 and walked only four in 16 2/3 innings of work this year. This is part of the backdrop for anyone considering an Angels Red Sox pick.
In terms of the overall contours of this matchup, the Angels have had a bright start to their season while the Red Sox have walked in darkness. The Angels have sprinted to the lead in the American League West with surprisingly good pitching. Their bullpen has been a long-term weakness, but that point of frailty has not yet been exposed in 2022. With the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros struggling, the Angels have been able to get through one month of baseball without losing ground in their division, a welcome change from recent seasons.
The Red Sox had a complete nightmare in April, defying the MLB odds. When you think about an Angels Red Sox prediction, you have to stop yourself and realize that these Red Sox aren’t the 2021 team which reached the ALCS and came within a few wins of a World Series appearance. Boston just hasn’t been able to hit this year. Rafael Devers has been the exception, not the rule. Several everyday players are hitting at or close to .200. The dead balls widely discussed in baseball circles have played a part in all of this, but that can’t be the sole reason for the team’s lack of run production. A lot of guys just aren’t producing. It could just be one bad month, but the Red Sox have to prove that their struggles were confined to April. If the team continues to fail to score in May, the Yankees — 18-6 through 24 games — are going to bury them in the American League East.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Angels-Red Sox MLB odds.
MLB Odds: Angels-Red Sox Odds
Los Angeles Angels: +1.5 (-176)
Boston Red Sox: -1.5 (+146)
Over: 8 (-115)
Under: 8 (-105)
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Why The Angels Could Cover the Spread
Boston is a bad hitting team, and the Angels’ pitching is not likely to be exposed by the Red Sox. Los Angeles lost on Tuesday because it was shut out. Don’t expect this batting order to be smothered for a second consecutive game.
Why The Red Sox Could Cover the Spread
The pitching matchup, with Garrett Whitlock on the bump, is favorable to Boston.
Final Angels-Red Sox Prediction & Pick
In terms of team trends, the Angels are the logical choice, but the pitching matchup is particular to the specific day, and if you’re a big believer in matchups, the Red Sox have the better chance of getting out to an early lead and setting the tone they want.
Final Angels-Red Sox Prediction & Pick: Red Sox -1.5
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