The Los Angeles Angels will head east to face the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Fox Sports West will televise this AL matchup. The opening pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles Angels at Toronto Blue Jays Odds
Los Angeles (-115) is favored against Toronto (+105) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). Gamblers can also bet on the game’s runline with the most recent odds sitting at Angels -1.5 runs (+130) and Blue Jays 1.5 runs (-150).
The Blue Jays are 22-25 SU and 23-24 ATS. They’ve lost 4.3 units for moneyline bettors and 2.6 units against the spread (ATS). Toronto has covered the spread only twice in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Angels have gone 26-21 SU this year and are 23-24 ATS. Overall, the team’s gained 2.6 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going, but have lost 0.7 units ATS. Los Angeles has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Neither squad has established itself as a strong over/under bet this year. Blue Jays games have an over/under record of 21-20-6 thus far in 2018. Los Angeles has an over/under record of 23-23-1.
Garrett Richards will get the nod for the visiting Angels. The right-handed Richards is 4-2 with a 3.47 ERA and 53 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Blue Jays this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Blue Jays are putting the ball in the left hand of J.A. Happ (5-3, 4.15 ERA), who’s got 66 strikeouts and 13 walks this season as well as a 1.13 WHIP. Happ only made one start against the Angels in 2017 (0-1, 4.50 ERA and five strikeouts across six innings).
As a unit, Toronto’s pitchers have yielded 5.0 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 5.44 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 9.1 K/9.
Toronto’s hitters have produced 4.8 runs per contest, including 3.9 per game over its last 10 games and 4.8 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .228/.335/.377 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Outfielder Kevin Pillar and first baseman Justin Smoak have paced the Blue Jays’ hitters so far. Pillar is slashing .294/.332/.486 with four home runs, 20 RBIs, 26 runs and eight stolen bases, and Smoak’s line is .252/.369/.439 with six homers, 26 RBIs and 24 runs.
Pillar seemed to take a step back when hitting right-handed pitching at home last year, slashing .208/.250/.303 over 236 such plate appearances (compared to his overall season line of .255/.300/.403).
In the other dugout, Los Angeles’ pitching staff allowed 4.2 runs per game and its starters own a 3.69 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 9.33 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.84, along with a WHIP of 1.24.
The Angels offense has slashed .249/.323/.422 on its way to 4.7 runs scored per game in 2018, including 2.6 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Los Angeles’ offense has been powered by right fielder Mike Trout and shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who collectively have swatted 17 home runs. Trout is slashing .294/.440/.632 with 14 home runs, 28 RBIs, 38 runs and 10 stolen bases, while Simmons (.329/.398/.467) has produced three homers, 25 RBIs, 27 runs and five steals.
Maintaining a slash line of .280/.443/.463 across 106 plate appearances, Trout seemed to take a step back when hitting lefties last season (compared to his total season slash line of .306/.442/.629).
The Angels have lost 0.9 units and are 4-6 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in five of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Blue Jays have lost 0.9 units and are 12-16 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in 15 of those games, compared to 10 that went under.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Toronto Blue Jays MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Blue Jays, ATS Winner – Blue Jays, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Blue Jays have lost seven of their last eight games SU.
Toronto has posted 19.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 20.0 over its last five.
The Angels have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games, including four over their last five.
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