The Texas Rangers are squaring off against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Fox Sports Southwest is in line to broadcast the action and the game will get going at 8:05 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers Odds
Texas (+120) is coming into this one as the underdog to Los Angeles (-130) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this one at 9.5 runs (-105 for the over and -115 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at +115 for the Angels -1.5 runs and -135 for the Rangers +1.5 runs.
The Rangers are 4-8 SU and 4-7 ATS. The team has lost 1.4 units for moneyline bettors and 5.1 units against the spread (ATS). Texas has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Angels are 8-3 SU and have gone 6-4 ATS. In total, the team’s accumulated 4.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline this year and 3.3 units ATS. Los Angeles has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven.
Texas games have a 4-6-1 over/under record thus far in 2018. The Angels have an over/under record of 6-4.
The Angels have gained 1.0 units and are 0-1 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in zero of those games, as opposed to one that’ve gone under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Rangers have lost 0.3 units and are 1-2 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to two that’ve gone under.
Tyler Skaggs (1-0, 1.64 ERA) will get the nod for Los Angeles. The southpaw Skaggs started 16 games last year and finished the season 2-6 overall with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He made four starts against Texas in 2017 and put together a 0-1 record against the Rangers with a 7.79 ERA and 16 strikeouts.
The Rangers will put the ball in the hands of lefty Martin Perez (1-0, 5.06 ERA), who started 32 games last year while finishing the season 13-12 overall with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. He recorded three starts against Los Angeles a year ago and put up a 2-1 record with a 3.38 ERA and eight strikeouts.
Texas’ pitchers have given up 4.9 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 4.73, a WHIP of 1.54 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 9.2. The bullpen has a 4.02 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 9.0 K/9. In nine divisional games, Rangers starters have an ERA of 4.06 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.93.
The Texas hitters are putting up 3.4 runs per outing, including 3.0 per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .277/.352/.416 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Elvis Andrus and Shin-soo Choo have led the Rangers’ hitters this year. Andrus is hitting .362/.423/.553 with 17 hits, five RBIs and seven runs scored, while Choo is batting .295 with 13 hits, six RBIs and six runs.
Choo did not do as well hitting against lefty pitching at home last season, slashing .254/.362/.305 across 69 such plate appearances (his total season line was .261/.357/.423).
For the visitors, Los Angeles’ pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starters own a 4.75 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 9.34 K/9. The bullpen has logged an outstanding ERA of just 2.63, along with a K-per-9 of 8.77.
The Angels offense has slashed .270/.325/.464 on its way to 6.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout have led Los Angeles’ offense. Ohtani is hitting .389/.421/.889 with seven hits, seven RBIs and four runs scored, while Trout (.222/.327/.489) is up to 10 hits, three homers, eight RBIs and nine runs scored.
Trout did not do especially well against lefty pitching in 2017. Over 106 plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .280/.443/.463 (compared to his total season line of .306/.442/.629).
Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Angels, ATS Winner – Angels, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Angels have hit 15 home runs in their last 10 games, including nine over their last five.
- Los Angeles has recorded 25.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 25.4 over its last five.
- The Angels have won five of their last six games SU while the Rangers have lost three of their last four SU.
