The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels will begin a three-game series on Monday night. It's time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Yankees-Angels prediction and pick.
The Yankees enter this series as one of the hottest teams in MLB. They've gone 13-2 in their last 15 games, with their only losses coming at the hands of the Oakland Athletics. New York's run propelled them to the top of the AL Wild Card standings, which happens to be exactly where the Angels are trying to go.
Los Angeles hasn't had nearly as much recent success as the Yankees, and it shows in the playoff chances. The Angels currently trail the last Wild Card spot by 10.5 games, so a couple more losses will essentially doom them to watching the postseason from home again.
Here's how the bookmakers have set the odds for Monday's game.
MLB Odds: Yankees-Angels Odds
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New York Yankees ML (-145)
Los Angeles Angels (+125)
Over 8 1/2 runs (-110)
Under 8 1/2 runs (-110)
Why The Yankees Could Win
The Yankees have been one of the best offenses in baseball over the past couple of weeks, and that trend should continue in this game. It looks like the Angels will be pitching a bullpen game, so the Bronx Bombers should be licking their lips as they enter this one. Seven of the Los Angeles relievers own ERAs far above 4.00, and plenty of those pitchers will see the field in this contest. Asking any bullpen to pitch nine innings is asking a lot, and this Angels bullpen that has been below average for much of the season is no different. The Yankees should be able to post plenty of runs in this game.
New York will entrust Monday's start to pitcher Corey Kluber. Kluber is coming off an extended stint on the IL, with his last start coming in mid-May. However, in his 10 appearances leading up to his injury, Kluber was pitching pretty well. The righty earned himself a 3.04 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over that span. It's unfair to expect an elite performance from Kluber in his first appearance back from injury, but it's certainly possible that the Yankees get a quality start from the veteran.
Why The Angels Could Win
If the Angels win this game, it will be because of the strength of their offense. Los Angeles ranks either inside the top 10 or just on the outside of it in batting average, slugging percentage, OBP, and OPS. Those numbers should help with facing Kluber, who is pitching for the first time in several months.
Because it's his first start since his injury, it's almost certain that Kluber will be on a pitch restriction. That means that the Angels will only have to deal with him for four or five innings maximum before the Yankees turn to their bullpen. New York's relief corps has been good this season, but pitching a huge portion of the game using relievers against an underrated offense isn't typically a recipe for success. The Angels may struggle to get the offense going early on, but they should be able to put some runs together against the Yankees' relief arms.
Final Yankees-Angels Prediction & Pick
This is a pretty easy pick. It's impossible to trust the Angels to pitch nine good innings of bullpen baseball against an offense as good as New York's. The Yankees also have a huge upper hand in the pitching department, as Kluber should put forth a decent outing before handing things over to one of the best bullpens in baseball. Lock in the Yankees and don't look back.
FINAL PICK: New York Yankees ML (-145)
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