Los Angles Angeles vs. Tampa Bay Rays
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The red hot Tampa Bay Devil Rays face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the second time this season as the Halos look to build off their recent series success over the A’s, heading out on a seven-game East Coast swing that includes visit to their hated East Coast rivals, the Boston Red Sox.
Date/Time: Saturday, April 30, 1:10 PM ET
Venue: Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida
Broadcast: FOX
Money Line: Rays -1.5
Spread: Angels +135, Rays -155
Over/Under: 8
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Anaheim rebounded in their series against Oakland, and after losing four straight to Boston, grabbed two of three at the Big A earlier this week.
After sprinting out to a 9-4 start, Los Angles has dropped five of seven but are still just one game back of division leaders Texas at 14-11. The offense has managed only six runs in those defeats while being shut out twice and the arms have given up 22 runs over the same span so they had been competitive but reflect the need for support.
Joel Pineiro, who has been sidelined since mid-March when he developed a knot in the back of his pitching shoulder during a spring training start, will take the mound in Game 2 of the weekend set. The right-hander was activated from the DL on Friday and will be making his first start of the year after putting up his second consecutive sub-4.00 ERA last season (3.84). Pineiro is 2-4 in 11 career starts against the Rays with an ERA of 4.91.
He will need to be sharp as the Angels are hitting a mediocre .254, having scored just 99 runs thus far in the season. Maicer Izturis hits a team high .333 with two homers and nine RBIs, Howie Kendrick is hitting .282 with a team high six homers and 11 RBIs, while slugger Torii Hunter is hitting just .210, but leads the team with four homers and 12 RBIs.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has been playing solid ball and has gone on a baseball best 13-3 run including five consecutive wins on a now concluded six game road trip.
The Rays picked up their fifth on Thursday after winning a double header at Minnesota, and at 14-11 find themselves just a game and a half back of the New York Yankee in the AL East.
James Shields will toe the rubber on Saturday as Tampa looks to continue its domination. After losing his first start, Shields has won two straight to move to 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA. Shields allowed four runs in nine complete innings as he beat the Blue Jays in his last start.
The bats have been like a buzz saw cutting down the oppositions pitching staff as of late as well, and Ben Zobrist is leading the way with seven homers and 25 RBIs and a team fourth-best average of .258.
Zobrist single-handily destroyed the Twins bullpen going seven of ten with a pair of long balls while totaling ten runs batted in. He has now knocked in 18 runs over the past five contests and leads the American League in that category with 25. However, as a team the Rays are hitting just .228 with 87 runs.
They will need an all out effort from the rest of the lineup including Sam Fuld who is hitting .315 with eight RBIs and 10 steals, as well as Johnny Damon who is hitting .279 with four homers and 20 RBIs. B.J. Upton has also pitched in with 10 RBIs and six steals.
The last time these teams met the Rays dropped two games to Los Angeles on the way to an agonizing 0-6 start to the season.
The odds makers have the Los Angeles Angels as a -1.5 point favorite with an run total of 8.
Check out the latest MLB Baseball Odds here.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Tampa Bay– The big question in this one is whether the Angels offense can produce against Shields who has a 3.16 ERA against them. The other question is how Pineiro will respond after coming back. How long can he last, and can he snuff the fiery Tampa lumber. The Rays have momentum and being at home will only add to their recent upswing.
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Los Angeles Angels Betting Trends:
- LA Angels are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Angels’s last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Angels’s last 7 games on the road
- LA Angels are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games on the road
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends:
- Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Tampa Bay’s last 25 games
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay’s last 7 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 18 of Tampa Bay’s last 20 games at home
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