This weekend, Southern California will duke it out with Northern California in the form of the Angels vs Athletics. These teams will be looking to set the pace for this short season on Friday. The National League version is taking place, too, as the Giants visit the Dodgers
Angels Pray for a Miracle
The Angels will be looking for leadership and power from superstar OF Mike Trout. With their top pitcher Julio Tehran out indefinitely due to COVID-19, the Angels will need to bring their top game to have a chance against the A’s.
On the other end of the spectrum are the Oakland A’s who are considered to be one of the best-run franchises in baseball. With one of the smallest budgets in the league, they have managed to make many shrewd decisions that have kept the team competitive. Their success on a small budget is largely considered to be the work of executive Billy Beane. This year they will try to not only make the playoffs, but advance out of the first round.
Angels Will Lean on Star Power
Orange County baseball fans may once again have to settle for cheering for the Dodgers this postseason. Considering the lackluster seasons the Angels have been suffering for at least four years under .500, it’s hard to imagine that they will suddenly become a contender.
If the Angels have any chance to make a dent in the standings, it will be because of Trout. The three-time AL MVP decided to play despite his concerns about COVID-19. The choice has elated fans.
With a weak pitching staff and not a lot of excitement surrounding this team again, it has its work cut out. The Angels are one of those teams who may have a chance this year based on the fact that there are only 60 regular-season games.
Oakland A’s Continue to Look Solid
This will be an interesting season for the Oakland A’s. Last year at 52-29 in Oakland, they had one of the best records at home of any team in the majors. The A’s have also managed to claw their way to the playoffs several times in past years. This is a testament to their management as they consistently have one of the smallest budgets in MLB.
Their team is basically the same as last year, once again because of budget concerns. Regardless, last year they were able to acquire RHP Frankie Montas who has proven to be excellent. Unfortunately, he only started in 16 games last year due to an 80-game suspension. He will be looking for redemption considering he was almost unbeatable when he did pitch.
The main question mark remaining is if the rest of the pitching staff can step up. The A’s have put tremendous responsibility on two young pitchers – Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puck. These fastball wizards have talent but lack experience.
The A’s may not have the star power and household names that their main competitor this year, the Astros, have. Yet their amazing club culture, namely that they are winners, is undeniable. Just look at their opponent on Friday who boasts arguably the best player in the league. They might not have a Mike Trout but great teamwork, a good attitude, and smart moves have consistently made the A’s a strong team.
Let’s take a look at how their matchup against the Angels is looking on our MLB odds page in our sportbook. For those of you who are new to MLB betting, be sure to check out our MLB betting guide page.
Athletics vs Angels 2019 Season Matchups
Last season the A’s dominated the Angels, winning 13 out of 19 games. That included a hot streak, which saw them win seven of the final eight meetings.
An important statistic to keep in mind for betting, they beat them consistently but by an average of 1.3 runs. They are clearly the better team, but they did not beat the Angels by a wide margin. In terms of historical analysis, it would appear that betting on a run line for this match could prove to be a bit risky. Let’s take a look below at how we are calling this one.
BetUS Angels vs Athletics Free MLB Pick: Oakland A’s (-145) Moneyline
Last year. the A’s were able to consistently beat the Angels. Yet taking into consideration that they, on average, beat them by less than two runs it makes a run line bet risky. At -145 that’s decent odds considering they are the far better team.
