The Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners will compete in the final game of a three-game series on Sunday. It is the rubber match between the two teams. Seattle won the first game 7-4 before Los Angeles bounced back with a vengeance, winning 10-5 on Saturday.
First pitch for Sunday’s contest is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Dylan Bundy will pitch for the Angels and Justus Sheffield will throw for the Mariners.
The MLB odds have the Angels as a road favorite based on the run line. Los Angeles is -155 to win and Seattle is +140 on the moneyline. The over/under has been set at 8 runs.
Angels Looking for Solid Ground
The Los Angeles Angels have been great at times. However, inconsistency has caused them to be one game over .500 and in fourth place in the American League West. When the Angels play their best baseball, it’s hard for any team to take them down.
The Angels’ strength has been at the plate. The team is averaging .265 at the plate with an OBP of .320. A significant reason that the team is performing so well offensively is because of Mike Trout.
Trout is the best player in baseball, and it’s not even close. A bad season for the All-Star is finishing fifth in the MVP race, which he did last season. Trout is on pace to add another MVP to his collection.
Trout is batting .429 with a .527 OBP. Shohei Ohtani has blasted eight home runs and Jared Walsh is leading the team in RBIs with 21.
Mariners in the Mix
The Mariners have been the biggest surprise in the AL West. This team was not given much respect heading into the season, but they are in the division mix after one month of play.
The Mariners are 15-13 and one game out of first place in the division thus far. Seattle has a great combination of veteran and young talent. This team will not be a contender in October, but the future is bright for the Mariners.
Seattle has struggled to find the big hit at times throughout the first month. It is batting a combined .211, but the team’s pitching has helped support the lackluster offense. The Mariners are filled with ground ball pitchers, and they have been able to pitch to contact to successfully get outs.
At the plate, Mitch Haniger, Kyle Seager, and Ty France lead the way. Without this trio, Seattle would be lost on offense.
The Matchup
Seattle has won behind pitching and timely hitting. Sheffield will be on the bump for the Mariners. He will have an arduous task facing a Los Angeles offense that is coming off a 10-run explosion.
Sheffield is 1-2 with a 5.32 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 22 innings. He is not overpowering, so he wins games by keeping the ball in the yard.
Bundy will take the ball for Los Angeles. He has not been much better than Sheffield, starting the season 0-2 with a 4.20 ERA. However, his strikeout ability is much better than Sheffield.
I think the Angels have the advantage in the pitching and hitting categories. If Los Angeles hits like it is capable, the Mariners will not keep up with the team. Seattle wins this game by neutralizing Trout and Ohtani, but I do not think this will happen.
When making your MLB pick, I like Los Angeles on the moneyline.
